My name is Rachel Ochoa, and I was born and raised in Visalia, California, a small town in the Central Valley. As the second youngest of five children in a family that faced poverty, I grew up understanding the challenges of limited resources. My parents, who immigrated from Mexico with hopes of building a better life, worked tirelessly to provide for us. My father, with minimal education, labored long hours in agriculture under difficult conditions, while my mother, facing significant health challenges, was unable to work. Their sacrifices instilled in me the importance of perseverance and education, motivating me to become the first in my family to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology. Growing up bilingual in Spanish and English proved to be both a challenge and a gift. Spanish, my first language, allowed me to bridge the gap between my family and the world around us. From a young age, I assisted my mother in navigating social services, translating forms, and advocating for her needs. However, I also witnessed the struggles of others in our community who lacked linguistic support. This disparity inspired my commitment to serve underserved populations and address barriers to mental health care. For the past decade, I have worked with individuals from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and linguistic backgrounds, providing services that empower them to overcome challenges such as lack of housing, employment, and access to mental health resources. My experiences highlighted the acute need for bilingual mental health providers, especially for Spanish-speaking clients. As one of the few Spanish-speaking clinicians during my practicum, I often found myself uniquely positioned to help monolingual clients who might otherwise have been overlooked. These moments affirmed my decision to specialize in providing culturally and linguistically appropriate care. After graduating with my doctorate, I plan to serve Spanish-speaking and other underserved communities. I aim to offer therapy and outreach programs designed to reduce stigma around mental health and build trust within these populations. Additionally, I hope to mentor aspiring bilingual mental health professionals to help address the systemic shortage of providers. Being bilingual has offered me the unique ability to connect deeply with clients and communities, but it has also required me to navigate the challenges of cultural and linguistic duality. Balancing these worlds has strengthened my resolve to promote equity in mental health care. My studies at Alliant International University, with their emphasis on cultural systems and humility, have prepared me to take on this responsibility. By receiving this scholarship, I will be able to dedicate myself fully to my academic and professional goals, ensuring that I can continue to give back to the community that shaped me. My journey is not just a testament to resilience but also a commitment to making mental health care accessible for all.

My name is Rachel J. Ochoa-Valdez, and I am pursuing a doctorate in clinical psychology at Alliant International University. Growing up in Visalia, California, in a low-income household, I witnessed firsthand the challenges of accessing mental health services, especially for monolingual Spanish-speaking individuals like my parents. These experiences instilled in me a deep commitment to advocating for underserved communities and addressing the barriers that prevent equitable access to mental health care. For over a decade, I have dedicated myself to supporting individuals from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and linguistic backgrounds. Through my professional roles, I’ve provided community referrals, addressed barriers like housing and mental health services, and fostered self-sufficiency among those I served. Recognizing the profound need for bilingual mental health professionals, I have focused on working with Spanish-speaking clients, bridging the gap for individuals often excluded from quality care due to language limitations. My studies have allowed me to deepen my understanding of culturally sensitive practices. At Alliant International University, I’ve embraced opportunities to learn from professors who emphasize cultural humility and the unique needs of minority populations. I’ve also taken leadership roles to further my impact: managing a community health website to promote behavioral health resources, serving as a student government leader to enhance student support, and volunteering at an animal shelter to champion equity beyond human concerns. Through these experiences, I’ve not only provided emotional support but have built pathways for others to access critical resources. In my future career, I aim to continue empowering Spanish-speaking and underserved communities by offering linguistically and culturally appropriate mental health services. My ultimate goal is to ensure that every individual, regardless of background or language, receives compassionate care that meets their needs. Receiving this scholarship will alleviate the financial pressures of full-time doctoral studies, enabling me to dedicate my energy to my academic pursuits and my community. With this support, I will fulfill my dream of becoming a bilingual clinical psychologist and advocate, giving back to the community that shaped my passion for this field.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I am the second youngest of five children. I am now the first in my family to have graduated from California State University, Fresno with a master’s degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. Numerous opportunities during my graduate studies have inspired me to continue with my education. But the most recent experience of losing a close friend and my fur baby has motivated me to pursue a career in mental health. Having lost both of them in the same year put many things into perspective, one of those being my education. The sudden loss of my friend, who was like a sister to me, came as a shock. I can still remember where I was when I heard the news of her passing. She was killed in a head-on collision; for the longest time, I was mad at the driver who caused the crash. But having a background in mental health, I knew anger was part of grief. As the year went on and as I was barely accepting her loss, my fur baby was taken from me unexpectedly. To me he was not just a dog, he was my companion and the child I never had. He went with me everywhere and did everything with me. So when he passed, I was yet again angry at the world for taking another loved one from me. Although I was able to process their passing, to this day I still miss them and think of them on a daily. Due to my lived experience, I am now able to connect better with my clients. For the past thirteen (13) years, I have dedicated my time to working with individuals in the community who are of different socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services that would aid them in overcoming barriers. Many of them have gone through grief themselves. My recent personal experience with grief has encouraged me to pursue a career in mental health so that I can be of service to those who are in need, as I have been before. In my personal view, receiving an education should be about having the ability to spread your knowledge to those around you and to make a positive impact on someone’s life. Receiving my education from the Clinical Psychology PsyD program will allow me to make a positive impact in the community. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically to those who are monolingual. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. The most common issue I have encountered has been the lack of mental health providers who emphasize in grief counseling that speak the same language as the client. My focus while in the PsyD program would revolve around culture and grief. From what I have gathered from my clients is that having someone who uses an interpreter does not necessarily receive the same quality of services. Countless times I heard my clients share that they could not connect with the individual because their therapist did not understand their culture and words would get lost in translation. My career goal is to be able to give back to the community of the Central Valley, a community that has given me so much, by being able to provide therapeutic services.

My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for them and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico, was our family's sole provider. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health, she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. After my parents sacrificed so much for me, they are my reason to continue to excel in what I do. I’m now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology. Numerous opportunities during my graduate studies have inspired me to continue my education since I have noticed that my role is limited by the support I can offer my clients. Growing up in a low-income household taught me a lot about poverty and how we are not all treated equally. However, it's what we make out of our adversity that matters. I grew up knowing social services agencies fairly well due to my low-income needs. Fortunately for my mother, I was bilingual and could support her through the process. Yet, I witnessed many individuals who were not as fortunate and struggled to navigate the services. My upbringing highlighted the inequality in treatment among individuals. Those from low-income backgrounds faced greater challenges in pursuing higher education. This motivated me to pursue higher education to be of service to others who may have experienced similar inequality growing up. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. My low-income background is what has helped me connect with my clients, because I know how it feels to be in need. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. While attending school full-time, I have made efforts to stay connected with the community by volunteering at my local animal shelter, participating in the student body government, and working for an integrated behavioral health grant. Promoting equity extends beyond humans; I also strive to aid animals. Currently, I volunteer at the animal shelter, assisting staff in caring for animals or taking them for walks. Supporting staff in finding homes for animals gives each one a fair chance at a happier life. Academically, I promote equity by serving on the executive board for the Student Government Association. Our aim is to ensure student voices are heard, organize events, and share opportunities. As part of The San Joaquin Valley Integrated Health Project, we raise awareness about integrated behavioral health, build alliances with healthcare providers, and understand our community's unique needs. In my community work, a common issue I've encountered is the shortage of mental health providers fluent in the clients' language. During my practicum, I faced a situation where limited Spanish-speaking staff were available for clients. As one of the few student clinicians proficient in Spanish, I was assigned a Spanish-speaking client. This experience underscored the community's need for bilingual mental health providers. I aspire to provide therapeutic services to Spanish-speaking individuals in my future career. My studies will equip me with the knowledge and skills needed to build lasting relationships with clients. I aim to contribute to my community by offering therapeutic services to monolingual clients, ensuring they receive the same quality of care as their peers.

Growing up in a low-income household taught me a lot about poverty and how we are not all treated equally. However, it's what we make out of our adversity that matters. I grew up knowing social services agencies fairly well due to my low-income needs. Fortunately for my mother, I was bilingual and could support her through the process. Yet, I witnessed many individuals who were not as fortunate and struggled to navigate the services. My upbringing highlighted the inequality in treatment among individuals. Those from low-income backgrounds faced greater challenges in pursuing higher education. This motivated me to pursue higher education to be of service to others who may have experienced similar inequality growing up. While attending school full-time, I have made efforts to stay connected with the community by volunteering at my local animal shelter, participating in the student body government, and working for an integrated behavioral health grant. In my community work, a common issue I've encountered is the shortage of mental health providers fluent in the clients' language. During my practicum, I faced a situation where limited Spanish-speaking staff were available for clients. As one of the few student clinicians proficient in Spanish, I was assigned a Spanish-speaking client. This experience underscored the community's need for bilingual mental health providers. I aspire to provide therapeutic services to Spanish-speaking individuals in my future career. My studies will equip me with the knowledge and skills needed to build lasting relationships with clients. I aim to contribute to my community by offering therapeutic services to monolingual clients, ensuring they receive the same quality of care as their peers.

Growing up in a low-income household taught me a lot about poverty and how we are not all treated equally. However, it's what we make out of our adversity that matters. I grew up knowing social services agencies fairly well due to my low-income needs. Fortunately for my mother, I was bilingual and could support her through the process. Yet, I witnessed many individuals who were not as fortunate and struggled to navigate the services. My upbringing highlighted the inequality in treatment among individuals. Those from low-income backgrounds faced greater challenges in pursuing higher education. This motivated me to pursue higher education to be of service to others who may have experienced similar inequality growing up. For the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals with different socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services or community referral that would aid them in overcoming barriers they may have. Some of the barriers consumers have been faced with were lack of transportation, employment, housing, as well as mental health and educational services. I have always focused on assisting individuals in becoming self-sufficient members of the community. By providing them culturally and linguistically appropriate services to unserved and underserved individuals and families who may not typically seek services. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. My low-income background is what has helped me connect with my clients, because I know how it feels to be in need. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. While attending school full-time, I have made efforts to stay connected with the community by volunteering at my local animal shelter, participating in the student body government, and working for an integrated behavioral health grant. Promoting equity extends beyond humans; I also strive to aid animals. Currently, I volunteer at the animal shelter, assisting staff in caring for animals or taking them for walks. Supporting staff in finding homes for animals gives each one a fair chance at a happier life. Academically, I promote equity by serving on the executive board for the Student Government Association. Our aim is to ensure student voices are heard, organize events, and share opportunities. As part of The San Joaquin Valley Integrated Health Project, we raise awareness about integrated behavioral health, build alliances with healthcare providers, and understand our community's unique needs. In my community work, a common issue I've encountered is the shortage of mental health providers fluent in the clients' language. During my practicum, I faced a situation where limited Spanish-speaking staff were available for clients. As one of the few student clinicians proficient in Spanish, I was assigned a Spanish-speaking client. This experience underscored the community's need for bilingual mental health providers. I aspire to provide therapeutic services to Spanish-speaking individuals in my future career. My studies will equip me with the knowledge and skills needed to build lasting relationships with clients. I aim to contribute to my community by offering therapeutic services to monolingual clients, ensuring they receive the same quality of care as their peers.

Growing up in a low-income household taught me a lot about poverty and how we are not all treated equally. However, it's what we make out of our adversity that matters. I grew up knowing social services agencies fairly well due to my low-income needs. Fortunately for my mother, I was bilingual and could support her through the process. Yet, I witnessed many individuals who were not as fortunate and struggled to navigate the services. My upbringing highlighted the inequality in treatment among individuals. Those from low-income backgrounds faced greater challenges in pursuing higher education. This motivated me to pursue higher education to be of service to others who may have experienced similar inequality growing up. For the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals with different socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services or community referral that would aid them in overcoming barriers they may have. Some of the barriers consumers have been faced with were lack of transportation, employment, housing, as well as mental health and educational services. I have always focused on assisting individuals in becoming self-sufficient members of the community. By providing them culturally and linguistically appropriate services to unserved and underserved individuals and families who may not typically seek services. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. My low-income background is what has helped me connect with my clients, because I know how it feels to be in need. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. While attending school full-time, I have made efforts to stay connected with the community by volunteering at my local animal shelter, participating in the student body government, and working for an integrated behavioral health grant. Promoting equity extends beyond humans; I also strive to aid animals. Currently, I volunteer at the animal shelter, assisting staff in caring for animals or taking them for walks. Supporting staff in finding homes for animals gives each one a fair chance at a happier life. Academically, I promote equity by serving on the executive board for the Student Government Association. Our aim is to ensure student voices are heard, organize events, and share opportunities. As part of The San Joaquin Valley Integrated Health Project, we raise awareness about integrated behavioral health, build alliances with healthcare providers, and understand our community's unique needs. In my community work, a common issue I've encountered is the shortage of mental health providers fluent in the clients' language. During my practicum, I faced a situation where limited Spanish-speaking staff were available for clients. As one of the few student clinicians proficient in Spanish, I was assigned a Spanish-speaking client. This experience underscored the community's need for bilingual mental health providers. I aspire to provide therapeutic services to Spanish-speaking individuals in my future career. My studies will equip me with the knowledge and skills needed to build lasting relationships with clients. I aim to contribute to my community by offering therapeutic services to monolingual clients, ensuring they receive the same quality of care as their peers.

Growing up in a low-income household taught me invaluable lessons about resilience, inequality, and the importance of community. My experiences navigating social service agencies with my mother, often serving as her bilingual advocate, opened my eyes to the barriers many individuals face. While I was fortunate to help my family in this way, I saw countless others struggle due to language barriers and systemic inequities. These experiences instilled in me a deep commitment to giving back to my community and motivated me to pursue higher education as a means to create positive change for others who have faced similar challenges. For the past decade, I have devoted my career to serving individuals from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds. Through one-on-one support, I have helped clients overcome barriers such as lack of transportation, stable housing, employment opportunities, and access to mental health and educational services. My work has focused on empowering individuals to become self-sufficient by providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services. I take pride in advocating for underserved communities, particularly monolingual Spanish speakers who often struggle to access the resources they need. My low-income upbringing has given me the empathy and understanding necessary to connect with these individuals and address their unique needs. Returning to school has been a challenging journey, but it has strengthened my dedication to serving my community. While pursuing higher education full-time, I have remained actively involved by volunteering at my local animal shelter, participating in student government, and working on an integrated behavioral health grant. My volunteer work with animals has taught me that promoting equity extends beyond humans, as I help give each animal a fair chance at a better life. As a student leader, I work to ensure that all voices are heard and that students have access to opportunities and resources that promote their success. My role in The San Joaquin Valley Integrated Health Project allows me to address critical issues in community health by building alliances with providers and raising awareness about behavioral health. One of the most pressing challenges I have encountered in my community work is the shortage of bilingual mental health providers. During my practicum, I was one of the few student clinicians fluent in Spanish, which led to me being assigned a Spanish-speaking client. This experience reinforced my understanding of the need for mental health services that are accessible to all, regardless of language or background. My goal is to use my education and training to provide culturally competent therapeutic services to monolingual Spanish-speaking clients, ensuring they receive the same quality of care as their peers. My commitment to giving back to my community has been the driving force behind my academic and professional pursuits. Every step I take is guided by my desire to address inequities, provide meaningful support, and empower others to overcome barriers. By leveraging my education, skills, and lived experiences, I aim to create lasting, positive change for the communities that shaped me and for those who continue to face challenges in accessing the care and resources they need.

Growing up in a low-income household taught me a lot about poverty and how we are not all treated equally. However, it's what we make out of our adversity that matters. I grew up knowing social services agencies fairly well due to my low-income needs. Fortunately for my mother, I was bilingual and could support her through the process. Yet, I witnessed many individuals who were not as fortunate and struggled to navigate the services. My upbringing highlighted the inequality in treatment among individuals. Those from low-income backgrounds faced greater challenges in pursuing higher education. This motivated me to pursue higher education to be of service to others who may have experienced similar inequality growing up. For the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals with different socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services or community referral that would aid them in overcoming barriers they may have. Some of the barriers consumers have been faced with were lack of transportation, employment, housing, as well as mental health and educational services. I have always focused on assisting individuals in becoming self-sufficient members of the community. By providing them culturally and linguistically appropriate services to unserved and underserved individuals and families who may not typically seek services. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. My low-income background is what has helped me connect with my clients, because I know how it feels to be in need. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. While attending school full-time, I have made efforts to stay connected with the community by volunteering at my local animal shelter, participating in the student body government, and working for an integrated behavioral health grant. Promoting equity extends beyond humans; I also strive to aid animals. Currently, I volunteer at the animal shelter, assisting staff in caring for animals or taking them for walks. Supporting staff in finding homes for animals gives each one a fair chance at a happier life. Academically, I promote equity by serving on the executive board for the Student Government Association. Our aim is to ensure student voices are heard, organize events, and share opportunities. As part of The San Joaquin Valley Integrated Health Project, we raise awareness about integrated behavioral health, build alliances with healthcare providers, and understand our community's unique needs. In my community work, a common issue I've encountered is the shortage of mental health providers fluent in the clients' language. During my practicum, I faced a situation where limited Spanish-speaking staff were available for clients. As one of the few student clinicians proficient in Spanish, I was assigned a Spanish-speaking client. This experience underscored the community's need for bilingual mental health providers. I aspire to provide therapeutic services to Spanish-speaking individuals in my future career. My studies will equip me with the knowledge and skills needed to build lasting relationships with clients. I aim to contribute to my community by offering therapeutic services to monolingual clients, ensuring they receive the same quality of care as their peers.

Growing up in a low-income household taught me about the harsh realities of poverty and the systemic inequities that persist in society. These experiences instilled resilience and a commitment to overcoming adversity. My family often relied on social service agencies to meet basic needs, and as a bilingual child, I became my mother’s advocate, helping her navigate complex systems. Yet, I witnessed many others struggle without similar support, facing language barriers and systemic challenges. These experiences fueled my passion for pursuing higher education, so I could better serve those who encounter similar obstacles. Returning to school as an adult brought its own set of financial and personal challenges. Leaving a full-time job meant sacrificing financial stability, which created significant strain as I balanced schoolwork, personal commitments, and community involvement. I had to navigate not only the rigors of academic life but also the reality of budgeting for tuition, books, and living expenses while maintaining a presence in my community. These sacrifices underscored the difficulty many adults face when attempting to advance their education, particularly those from low-income backgrounds. For the past decade, I have dedicated my career to serving individuals from diverse socioeconomic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds. I’ve worked directly with clients to address barriers such as lack of transportation, stable housing, employment opportunities, and access to mental health and educational services. I’ve focused on empowering individuals to become self-sufficient while ensuring services are culturally and linguistically appropriate for underserved populations. My own background has allowed me to empathize deeply with my clients, especially those who are monolingual Spanish speakers. Seeing their challenges in accessing mental health services has only strengthened my resolve to become a bilingual provider who can meet this critical need. Despite the financial and emotional toll of returning to school, I have remained committed to serving my community. I volunteer at my local animal shelter, where I assist in caring for animals and finding them loving homes. I also serve on the executive board for the Student Government Association, ensuring student voices are heard and advocating for equitable access to resources. As part of The San Joaquin Valley Integrated Health Project, I’ve worked to raise awareness about integrated behavioral health and strengthen alliances with healthcare providers to meet the unique needs of our community. In my academic and practicum experiences, the need for bilingual mental health providers has become even more evident. During my practicum, I was one of the few student clinicians proficient in Spanish and was assigned to work with a Spanish-speaking client. This experience reinforced my desire to address this gap in care and highlighted the importance of equitable access to mental health services. My goal is to provide culturally competent therapeutic services to monolingual Spanish-speaking clients, ensuring they receive the same quality of care as their peers. Returning to school has been a challenging yet deeply rewarding journey. The financial sacrifices and balancing act of work, school, and community involvement have only solidified my determination to give back to my community. Through my education and experiences, I aim to be a resource for those facing barriers to care, advocating for equity and accessibility in all facets of life.

Growing up in a low-income household taught me a lot about poverty and how we are not all treated equally. However, it's what we make out of our adversity that matters. I grew up knowing social services agencies fairly well due to my low-income needs. Fortunately for my mother, I was bilingual and could support her through the process. Yet, I witnessed many individuals who were not as fortunate and struggled to navigate the services. My upbringing highlighted the inequality in treatment among individuals. Those from low-income backgrounds faced greater challenges in pursuing higher education. This motivated me to pursue higher education to be of service to others who may have experienced similar inequality growing up. For the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals with different socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services or community referral that would aid them in overcoming barriers they may have. Some of the barriers consumers have been faced with were lack of transportation, employment, housing, as well as mental health and educational services. I have always focused on assisting individuals in becoming self-sufficient members of the community. By providing them culturally and linguistically appropriate services to unserved and underserved individuals and families who may not typically seek services. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. My low-income background is what has helped me connect with my clients, because I know how it feels to be in need. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. While attending school full-time, I have made efforts to stay connected with the community by volunteering at my local animal shelter, participating in the student body government, and working for an integrated behavioral health grant. Promoting equity extends beyond humans; I also strive to aid animals. Currently, I volunteer at the animal shelter, assisting staff in caring for animals or taking them for walks. Supporting staff in finding homes for animals gives each one a fair chance at a happier life. Academically, I promote equity by serving on the executive board for the Student Government Association. Our aim is to ensure student voices are heard, organize events, and share opportunities. As part of The San Joaquin Valley Integrated Health Project, we raise awareness about integrated behavioral health, build alliances with healthcare providers, and understand our community's unique needs. In my community work, a common issue I've encountered is the shortage of mental health providers fluent in the clients' language. During my practicum, I faced a situation where limited Spanish-speaking staff were available for clients. As one of the few student clinicians proficient in Spanish, I was assigned a Spanish-speaking client. This experience underscored the community's need for bilingual mental health providers. I aspire to provide therapeutic services to Spanish-speaking individuals in my future career. My studies will equip me with the knowledge and skills needed to build lasting relationships with clients. I aim to contribute to my community by offering therapeutic services to monolingual clients, ensuring they receive the same quality of care as their peers.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I am the second youngest of five children. I am now the first in my family to have graduated from California State University, Fresno with a master’s degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. Numerous opportunities during my graduate studies have inspired me to continue with my education. But the most recent experience of losing a close friend and my fur baby has motivated me to pursue a career in mental health. Having lost both of them in the same year put many things into perspective, one of those being my education. The sudden loss of my friend, who was like a sister to me, came as a shock. I can still remember where I was when I heard the news of her passing. She was killed in a head-on collision; for the longest time, I was mad at the driver who caused the crash. But having a background in mental health, I knew anger was part of grief. As the year went on and as I was barely accepting her loss, my fur baby was taken from me unexpectedly. To me he was not just a dog, he was my companion and the child I never had. He went with me everywhere and did everything with me. So when he passed, I was yet again angry at the world for taking another loved one from me. Although I was able to process their passing, to this day I still miss them and think of them on a daily. Due to my lived experience, I am now able to connect better with my clients. For the past thirteen (13) years, I have dedicated my time to working with individuals in the community who are of different socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services that would aid them in overcoming barriers. Many of them have gone through grief themselves. My recent personal experience with grief has encouraged me to pursue a career in mental health so that I can be of service to those who are in need, as I have been before. In my personal view, receiving an education should be about having the ability to spread your knowledge to those around you and to make a positive impact on someone’s life. Receiving my education from the Clinical Psychology PsyD program will allow me to make a positive impact in the community. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically to those who are monolingual. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. The most common issue I have encountered has been the lack of mental health providers who emphasize in grief counseling that speak the same language as the client. My focus while in the PsyD program would revolve around culture and grief. From what I have gathered from my clients is that having someone who uses an interpreter does not necessarily receive the same quality of services. Countless times I heard my clients share that they could not connect with the individual because their therapist did not understand their culture and words would get lost in translation. My career goal is to be able to give back to the community of the Central Valley, a community that has given me so much, by being able to provide therapeutic services.

My upbringing highlighted the inequality in treatment among individuals. Those from low-income backgrounds faced greater challenges in pursuing higher education. This motivated me to pursue higher education to be of service to others who may have experienced similar inequality growing up. While attending school full-time, I have made efforts to stay connected with the community by volunteering at my local animal shelter, participating in the student body government, and working for an integrated behavioral health grant. Promoting equity extends beyond humans; I also strive to aid animals. Currently, I volunteer at the animal shelter, assisting staff in caring for animals or taking them for walks. Supporting staff in finding homes for animals gives each one a fair chance at a happier life. Academically, I promote equity by serving on the executive board for the Student Government Association. Our aim is to ensure student voices are heard, organize events, and share opportunities. As part of The San Joaquin Valley Integrated Health Project, we raise awareness about integrated behavioral health, build alliances with healthcare providers, and understand our community's unique needs. In my community work, a common issue I've encountered is the shortage of mental health providers fluent in the clients' language. During my practicum, I faced a situation where limited Spanish-speaking staff were available for clients. As one of the few student clinicians proficient in Spanish, I was assigned a Spanish-speaking client. This experience underscored the community's need for bilingual mental health providers. I aspire to provide therapeutic services to Spanish-speaking individuals in my future career. My studies will equip me with the knowledge and skills needed to build lasting relationships with clients. I aim to contribute to my community by offering therapeutic services to monolingual clients, ensuring they receive the same quality of care as their peers.

Growing up in a low-income household taught me a lot about poverty and how we are not all treated equally. However, it's what we make out of our adversity that matters. I grew up knowing social services agencies fairly well due to my low-income needs. Fortunately for my mother, I was bilingual and could support her through the process. Yet, I witnessed many individuals who were not as fortunate and struggled to navigate the services. My upbringing highlighted the inequality in treatment among individuals. Those from low-income backgrounds faced greater challenges in pursuing higher education. This motivated me to pursue higher education to be of service to others who may have experienced similar inequality growing up. For the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals with different socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services or community referral that would aid them in overcoming barriers they may have. Some of the barriers consumers have been faced with were lack of transportation, employment, housing, as well as mental health and educational services. I have always focused on assisting individuals in becoming self-sufficient members of the community. By providing them culturally and linguistically appropriate services to unserved and underserved individuals and families who may not typically seek services. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. My low-income background is what has helped me connect with my clients, because I know how it feels to be in need. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. While attending school full-time, I have made efforts to stay connected with the community by volunteering at my local animal shelter, participating in the student body government, and working for an integrated behavioral health grant. Promoting equity extends beyond humans; I also strive to aid animals. Currently, I volunteer at the animal shelter, assisting staff in caring for animals or taking them for walks. Supporting staff in finding homes for animals gives each one a fair chance at a happier life. Academically, I promote equity by serving on the executive board for the Student Government Association. Our aim is to ensure student voices are heard, organize events, and share opportunities. As part of The San Joaquin Valley Integrated Health Project, we raise awareness about integrated behavioral health, build alliances with healthcare providers, and understand our community's unique needs. In my community work, a common issue I've encountered is the shortage of mental health providers fluent in the clients' language. During my practicum, I faced a situation where limited Spanish-speaking staff were available for clients. As one of the few student clinicians proficient in Spanish, I was assigned a Spanish-speaking client. This experience underscored the community's need for bilingual mental health providers. I aspire to provide therapeutic services to Spanish-speaking individuals in my future career. My studies will equip me with the knowledge and skills needed to build lasting relationships with clients. I aim to contribute to my community by offering therapeutic services to monolingual clients, ensuring they receive the same quality of care as their peers.

Growing up in a low-income household taught me a lot about poverty and how we are not all treated equally. However, it's what we make out of our adversity that matters. I grew up knowing social services agencies fairly well due to my low-income needs. Fortunately for my mother, I was bilingual and could support her through the process. Yet, I witnessed many individuals who were not as fortunate and struggled to navigate the services. My upbringing highlighted the inequality in treatment among individuals. Those from low-income backgrounds faced greater challenges in pursuing higher education. This motivated me to pursue higher education to be of service to others who may have experienced similar inequality growing up. For the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals with different socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services or community referral that would aid them in overcoming barriers they may have. Some of the barriers consumers have been faced with were lack of transportation, employment, housing, as well as mental health and educational services. I have always focused on assisting individuals in becoming self-sufficient members of the community. By providing them culturally and linguistically appropriate services to unserved and underserved individuals and families who may not typically seek services. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. My low-income background is what has helped me connect with my clients, because I know how it feels to be in need. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. While attending school full-time, I have made efforts to stay connected with the community by volunteering at my local animal shelter, participating in the student body government, and working for an integrated behavioral health grant. Promoting equity extends beyond humans; I also strive to aid animals. Currently, I volunteer at the animal shelter, assisting staff in caring for animals or taking them for walks. Supporting staff in finding homes for animals gives each one a fair chance at a happier life. Academically, I promote equity by serving on the executive board for the Student Government Association. Our aim is to ensure student voices are heard, organize events, and share opportunities. As part of The San Joaquin Valley Integrated Health Project, we raise awareness about integrated behavioral health, build alliances with healthcare providers, and understand our community's unique needs. In my community work, a common issue I've encountered is the shortage of mental health providers fluent in the clients' language. During my practicum, I faced a situation where limited Spanish-speaking staff were available for clients. As one of the few student clinicians proficient in Spanish, I was assigned a Spanish-speaking client. This experience underscored the community's need for bilingual mental health providers. I aspire to provide therapeutic services to Spanish-speaking individuals in my future career. My studies will equip me with the knowledge and skills needed to build lasting relationships with clients. I aim to contribute to my community by offering therapeutic services to monolingual clients, ensuring they receive the same quality of care as their peers.

For the past ten years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals with different socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds. I have always focused on assisting individuals in becoming self-sufficient members of the community. By providing them culturally/linguistically appropriate services to unserved and underserved individuals and families who may not typically seek services. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. My low-income background is what has helped me connect with my clients, because I know how it feels to be in need. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. In my community work, a common issue I've encountered is the shortage of mental health providers fluent in the clients' language. During my practicum, I faced a situation where limited Spanish-speaking staff were available for clients. As one of the few student clinicians proficient in Spanish, I was assigned a Spanish-speaking client. This experience underscored the community's need for bilingual mental health providers. I aspire to provide therapeutic services to Spanish-speaking individuals in my future career. My studies will equip me with the knowledge and skills needed to build lasting relationships with clients. I aim to contribute to my community by offering therapeutic services to monolingual clients, ensuring they receive the same quality of care as their peers.

Growing up in a low-income household taught me a lot about poverty and how we are not all treated equally. However, it's what we make out of our adversity that matters. I grew up knowing social services agencies fairly well due to my low-income needs. Fortunately for my mother, I was bilingual and could support her through the process. Yet, I witnessed many individuals who were not as fortunate and struggled to navigate the services. My upbringing highlighted the inequality in treatment among individuals. Those from low-income backgrounds faced greater challenges in pursuing higher education. This motivated me to pursue higher education to be of service to others who may have experienced similar inequality growing up. For the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals with different socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services or community referral that would aid them in overcoming barriers they may have. Some of the barriers consumers have been faced with were lack of transportation, employment, housing, as well as mental health and educational services. I have always focused on assisting individuals in becoming self-sufficient members of the community. By providing them culturally and linguistically appropriate services to unserved and underserved individuals and families who may not typically seek services. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. My low-income background is what has helped me connect with my clients, because I know how it feels to be in need. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. While attending school full-time, I have made efforts to stay connected with the community by volunteering at my local animal shelter, participating in the student body government, and working for an integrated behavioral health grant. Promoting equity extends beyond humans; I also strive to aid animals. Currently, I volunteer at the animal shelter, assisting staff in caring for animals or taking them for walks. Supporting staff in finding homes for animals gives each one a fair chance at a happier life. Academically, I promote equity by serving on the executive board for the Student Government Association. Our aim is to ensure student voices are heard, organize events, and share opportunities. As part of The San Joaquin Valley Integrated Health Project, we raise awareness about integrated behavioral health, build alliances with healthcare providers, and understand our community's unique needs. In my community work, a common issue I've encountered is the shortage of mental health providers fluent in the clients' language. During my practicum, I faced a situation where limited Spanish-speaking staff were available for clients. As one of the few student clinicians proficient in Spanish, I was assigned a Spanish-speaking client. This experience underscored the community's need for bilingual mental health providers. I aspire to provide therapeutic services to Spanish-speaking individuals in my future career. My studies will equip me with the knowledge and skills needed to build lasting relationships with clients. I aim to contribute to my community by offering therapeutic services to monolingual clients, ensuring they receive the same quality of care as their peers.

Growing up in a low-income household taught me a lot about poverty and how we are not all treated equally. However, it's what we make out of our adversity that matters. I grew up knowing social services agencies fairly well due to my low-income needs. Fortunately for my mother, I was bilingual and could support her through the process. Yet, I witnessed many individuals who were not as fortunate and struggled to navigate the services. My upbringing highlighted the inequality in treatment among individuals. Those from low-income backgrounds faced greater challenges in pursuing higher education. This motivated me to pursue higher education to be of service to others who may have experienced similar inequality growing up. For the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals with different socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services or community referral that would aid them in overcoming barriers they may have. Some of the barriers consumers have been faced with were lack of transportation, employment, housing, as well as mental health and educational services. I have always focused on assisting individuals in becoming self-sufficient members of the community. By providing them culturally and linguistically appropriate services to unserved and underserved individuals and families who may not typically seek services. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. My low-income background is what has helped me connect with my clients, because I know how it feels to be in need. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. While attending school full-time, I have made efforts to stay connected with the community by volunteering at my local animal shelter, participating in the student body government, and working for an integrated behavioral health grant. Promoting equity extends beyond humans; I also strive to aid animals. Currently, I volunteer at the animal shelter, assisting staff in caring for animals or taking them for walks. Supporting staff in finding homes for animals gives each one a fair chance at a happier life. Academically, I promote equity by serving on the executive board for the Student Government Association. Our aim is to ensure student voices are heard, organize events, and share opportunities. As part of The San Joaquin Valley Integrated Health Project, we raise awareness about integrated behavioral health, build alliances with healthcare providers, and understand our community's unique needs. In my community work, a common issue I've encountered is the shortage of mental health providers fluent in the clients' language. During my practicum, I faced a situation where limited Spanish-speaking staff were available for clients. As one of the few student clinicians proficient in Spanish, I was assigned a Spanish-speaking client. This experience underscored the community's need for bilingual mental health providers. I aspire to provide therapeutic services to Spanish-speaking individuals in my future career. My studies will equip me with the knowledge and skills needed to build lasting relationships with clients. I aim to contribute to my community by offering therapeutic services to monolingual clients, ensuring they receive the same quality of care as their peers.

Growing up in a low-income household taught me a lot about poverty and how we are not all treated equally. However, it's what we make out of our adversity that matters. I grew up knowing social services agencies fairly well due to my low-income needs. Fortunately for my mother, I was bilingual and could support her through the process. Yet, I witnessed many individuals who were not as fortunate and struggled to navigate the services. My upbringing highlighted the inequality in treatment among individuals. Those from low-income backgrounds faced greater challenges in pursuing higher education. This motivated me to pursue higher education to be of service to others who may have experienced similar inequality growing up. For the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals with different socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services or community referral that would aid them in overcoming barriers they may have. Some of the barriers consumers have been faced with were lack of transportation, employment, housing, as well as mental health and educational services. I have always focused on assisting individuals in becoming self-sufficient members of the community. By providing them culturally and linguistically appropriate services to unserved and underserved individuals and families who may not typically seek services. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. My low-income background is what has helped me connect with my clients, because I know how it feels to be in need. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. While attending school full-time, I have made efforts to stay connected with the community by volunteering at my local animal shelter, participating in the student body government, and working for an integrated behavioral health grant. Promoting equity extends beyond humans; I also strive to aid animals. Currently, I volunteer at the animal shelter, assisting staff in caring for animals or taking them for walks. Supporting staff in finding homes for animals gives each one a fair chance at a happier life. Academically, I promote equity by serving on the executive board for the Student Government Association. Our aim is to ensure student voices are heard, organize events, and share opportunities. As part of The San Joaquin Valley Integrated Health Project, we raise awareness about integrated behavioral health, build alliances with healthcare providers, and understand our community's unique needs. In my community work, a common issue I've encountered is the shortage of mental health providers fluent in the clients' language. During my practicum, I faced a situation where limited Spanish-speaking staff were available for clients. As one of the few student clinicians proficient in Spanish, I was assigned a Spanish-speaking client. This experience underscored the community's need for bilingual mental health providers. I aspire to provide therapeutic services to Spanish-speaking individuals in my future career. My studies will equip me with the knowledge and skills needed to build lasting relationships with clients. I aim to contribute to my community by offering therapeutic services to monolingual clients, ensuring they receive the same quality of care as their peers.

Growing up in a low-income household taught me a lot about poverty and how we are not all treated equally. However, it's what we make out of our adversity that matters. I grew up knowing social services agencies fairly well due to my low-income needs. Fortunately for my mother, I was bilingual and could support her through the process. Yet, I witnessed many individuals who were not as fortunate and struggled to navigate the services. My upbringing highlighted the inequality in treatment among individuals. Those from low-income backgrounds faced greater challenges in pursuing higher education. This motivated me to pursue higher education to be of service to others who may have experienced similar inequality growing up. For the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals with different socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services or community referral that would aid them in overcoming barriers they may have. Some of the barriers consumers have been faced with were lack of transportation, employment, housing, as well as mental health and educational services. I have always focused on assisting individuals in becoming self-sufficient members of the community. By providing them culturally and linguistically appropriate services to unserved and underserved individuals and families who may not typically seek services. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. My low-income background is what has helped me connect with my clients, because I know how it feels to be in need. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. While attending school full-time, I have made efforts to stay connected with the community by volunteering at my local animal shelter, participating in the student body government, and working for an integrated behavioral health grant. Promoting equity extends beyond humans; I also strive to aid animals. Currently, I volunteer at the animal shelter, assisting staff in caring for animals or taking them for walks. Supporting staff in finding homes for animals gives each one a fair chance at a happier life. Academically, I promote equity by serving on the executive board for the Student Government Association. Our aim is to ensure student voices are heard, organize events, and share opportunities. As part of The San Joaquin Valley Integrated Health Project, we raise awareness about integrated behavioral health, build alliances with healthcare providers, and understand our community's unique needs. In my community work, a common issue I've encountered is the shortage of mental health providers fluent in the clients' language. During my practicum, I faced a situation where limited Spanish-speaking staff were available for clients. As one of the few student clinicians proficient in Spanish, I was assigned a Spanish-speaking client. This experience underscored the community's need for bilingual mental health providers. I aspire to provide therapeutic services to Spanish-speaking individuals in my future career. My studies will equip me with the knowledge and skills needed to build lasting relationships with clients. I aim to contribute to my community by offering therapeutic services to monolingual clients, ensuring they receive the same quality of care as their peers.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I am the second youngest of five children. I am now the first in my family to have graduated from California State University, Fresno with a master’s degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. Numerous opportunities during my graduate studies have inspired me to continue with my education. But the most recent experience of losing a close friend and my fur baby has motivated me to pursue a career in mental health. Having lost both of them in the same year put many things into perspective, one of those being my education. The sudden loss of my friend, who was like a sister to me, came as a shock. I can still remember where I was when I heard the news of her passing. She was killed in a head-on collision; for the longest time, I was mad at the driver who caused the crash. But having a background in mental health, I knew anger was part of grief. As the year went on and as I was barely accepting her loss, my fur baby was taken from me unexpectedly. To me he was not just a dog, he was my companion and the child I never had. He went with me everywhere and did everything with me. So when he passed, I was yet again angry at the world for taking another loved one from me. Although I was able to process their passing, to this day I still miss them and think of them on a daily. Due to my lived experience, I am now able to connect better with my clients. For the past thirteen (13) years, I have dedicated my time to working with individuals in the community who are of different socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services that would aid them in overcoming barriers. Many of them have gone through grief themselves. My recent personal experience with grief has encouraged me to pursue a career in mental health so that I can be of service to those who are in need, as I have been before. In my personal view, receiving an education should be about having the ability to spread your knowledge to those around you and to make a positive impact on someone’s life. Receiving my education from the Clinical Psychology PsyD program will allow me to make a positive impact in the community. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically to those who are monolingual. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. The most common issue I have encountered has been the lack of mental health providers who emphasize in grief counseling that speak the same language as the client. My focus while in the PsyD program would revolve around culture and grief. From what I have gathered from my clients is that having someone who uses an interpreter does not necessarily receive the same quality of services. Countless times I heard my clients share that they could not connect with the individual because their therapist did not understand their culture and words would get lost in translation. My career goal is to be able to give back to the community of the Central Valley, a community that has given me so much, by being able to provide therapeutic services.

Growing up in a low-income household taught me a lot about poverty and how we are not all treated equally. However, it's what we make out of our adversity that matters. I grew up knowing social services agencies fairly well due to my low-income needs. Fortunately for my mother, I was bilingual and could support her through the process. Yet, I witnessed many individuals who were not as fortunate and struggled to navigate the services. My upbringing highlighted the inequality in treatment among individuals. Those from low-income backgrounds faced greater challenges in pursuing higher education. This motivated me to pursue higher education to be of service to others who may have experienced similar inequality growing up. For the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals with different socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services or community referral that would aid them in overcoming barriers they may have. Some of the barriers consumers have been faced with were lack of transportation, employment, housing, as well as mental health and educational services. I have always focused on assisting individuals in becoming self-sufficient members of the community. By providing them culturally and linguistically appropriate services to unserved and underserved individuals and families who may not typically seek services. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. My low-income background is what has helped me connect with my clients, because I know how it feels to be in need. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. While attending school full-time, I have made efforts to stay connected with the community by volunteering at my local animal shelter, participating in the student body government, and working for an integrated behavioral health grant. Promoting equity extends beyond humans; I also strive to aid animals. Currently, I volunteer at the animal shelter, assisting staff in caring for animals or taking them for walks. Supporting staff in finding homes for animals gives each one a fair chance at a happier life. Academically, I promote equity by serving on the executive board for the Student Government Association. Our aim is to ensure student voices are heard, organize events, and share opportunities. As part of The San Joaquin Valley Integrated Health Project, we raise awareness about integrated behavioral health, build alliances with healthcare providers, and understand our community's unique needs. In my community work, a common issue I've encountered is the shortage of mental health providers fluent in the clients' language. During my practicum, I faced a situation where limited Spanish-speaking staff were available for clients. As one of the few student clinicians proficient in Spanish, I was assigned a Spanish-speaking client. This experience underscored the community's need for bilingual mental health providers. I aspire to provide therapeutic services to Spanish-speaking individuals in my future career. My studies will equip me with the knowledge and skills needed to build lasting relationships with clients. I aim to contribute to my community by offering therapeutic services to monolingual clients, ensuring they receive the same quality of care as their peers.

Throughout the years I have had the opportunity to learn a lot about selflessness. To me giving back to my community is the definition of selflessness. Although I can not provide monetary gifts to the locations I volunteer with, I can give them my time and help as much as I can. Selflessness to me is helping others without wanting anything back in return. Currently, I volunteer at the animal shelter, whenever time allows, but I support the staff in cleaning after the shelter animals. Being able to give up some of my time to be able to support the shelter animals is very rewarding. I will be honest, it does break my heart every time I walk in and see so many dogs in the shelter. But I focus on the positive, that if I can at least make one dog’s day better by showing them love or taking them for a walk, then I have achieved my goal for the day. I also just started volunteering with a local church, where I support staff in cleaning and attending to church members/staff. Working for the church I can spend time with folks who walk into the café and need a listening ear. I just started and am still learning my way around the café but it's rewarding to spend my free time helping others by just listening to them. Professionally, the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals with different socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds. Culture is a big part of why I work for the community. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services or community referrals that would aid them in overcoming barriers they may have. Some of the barriers consumers have been faced with were lack of transportation, employment, housing, as well as mental health and educational services. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. A success story I have from working with this program is a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. My focus while in the PsyD program would revolve around culture, specifically language. My low-income background has encouraged me to pursue a career in this field, so that I can be of service to those who are in need, as I have been before. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support a diverse community, specifically in the mental health field.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for themselves and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico, was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health, she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. After my parents sacrificed so much for me, they are my reason to continue to excel in what I do. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate in psychology. Numerous opportunities during my graduate studies have inspired me to continue my education. My previous experiences in study abroad programs, internships, and employment have inspired me to continue with my education since I have noticed that I am limited in my role with the support I can offer my clients. Growing up in a low-income household taught me a lot about the social services that are offered, and the struggles families face in applying for them. Fortunately for my mother, I was bilingual and could support her along the process. But I saw many individuals who were not as fortunate and struggled to navigate the services. These experiences paved the way for me to give back to my community and always offer a helping hand. A success story I have from working in the mental health field is of a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support her in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. Clients like this have shown me that there is a need for mental health providers who speak the same language. Being able to provide therapeutic services to individuals who are monolingual is my future career aspiration. Learning from my clinical supervisor that language barriers can impact not only the correct diagnosis but also give a false impression of a client’s symptoms, motivated me to return to school. Although my clients had the ability to use an interpreter, they always shared that they felt that they were never fully understood. My studies will allow me to gain knowledge and skills that will support me in developing ongoing relationships with clients. My low-income background has encouraged me to pursue a career in this field, so that I can be of service to those who are in need, as I have been before.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for themselves and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico, was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health, she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. As a child, I remember my father working long hours, whether it be in the scorching sun or in the freezing cold so that he could provide us with the necessities. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. After my parents sacrificed so much for me, they are my reason to continue to excel in what I do. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate in psychology. Numerous opportunities during my graduate studies have inspired me to continue my education. My previous experiences in study abroad programs, internships, and employment have inspired me to continue with my education since I have noticed that I am limited in my role with the support I can offer my clients. Growing up in a low-income household taught me a lot about the social services that are offered, and the struggles families face in applying for them. Fortunately for my mother, I was bilingual and could support her along the process. But I saw many individuals who were not as fortunate and struggled to navigate the services. These experiences paved the way for me to give back to my community and always offer a helping hand. A success story I have from working in the mental health field is of a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support her in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. Clients like this have shown me that there is a need for mental health providers who speak the same language. Being able to provide therapeutic services to individuals who are monolingual is my future career aspiration. Learning from my clinical supervisor that language barriers can impact not only the correct diagnosis but also give a false impression of a client’s symptoms, motivated me to return to school. Although my clients had the ability to use an interpreter, they always shared that they felt that they were never fully understood. My studies will allow me to gain knowledge and skills that will support me in developing ongoing relationships with clients. By receiving this scholarship, I will be able to focus on my studies and less on the financial hardship that comes with obtaining a doctorate. The doctoral program I have been accepted to is a full-time program that will require my full attention. Due to the demands of the program I will be required to leave my full time job and focus on school. Receiving this scholarship will allow me to accomplish my goal and be able to give back to my community. My low-income background has encouraged me to pursue a career in this field, so that I can be of service to those who are in need, as I have been before.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I am the second youngest of five children. I am now the first in my family to have graduated from California State University, Fresno with a master’s degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. Numerous opportunities during my graduate studies have inspired me to continue with my education. But the most recent experience of losing a close friend and my fur baby has motivated me to pursue a career in mental health. Having lost both of them in the same year put many things into perspective, one of those being my education. The sudden loss of my friend, who was like a sister to me, came as a shock. I can still remember where I was when I heard the news of her passing. She was killed in a head-on collision; for the longest time, I was mad at the driver who caused the crash. But having a background in mental health, I knew anger was part of grief. As the year went on and as I was barely accepting her loss, my fur baby was taken from me unexpectedly. To me he was not just a dog, he was my companion and the child I never had. He went with me everywhere and did everything with me. So when he passed, I was yet again angry at the world for taking another loved one from me. Although I was able to process their passing, to this day I still miss them and think of them on a daily. Due to my lived experience, I am now able to connect better with my clients. For the past thirteen (13) years, I have dedicated my time to working with individuals in the community who are of different socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services that would aid them in overcoming barriers. Many of them have gone through grief themselves. My recent personal experience with grief has encouraged me to pursue a career in mental health so that I can be of service to those who are in need, as I have been before. In my personal view, receiving an education should be about having the ability to spread your knowledge to those around you and to make a positive impact on someone’s life. Receiving my education from the Clinical Psychology PsyD program will allow me to make a positive impact in the community. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically to those who are monolingual. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. The most common issue I have encountered has been the lack of mental health providers who emphasize in grief counseling that speak the same language as the client. My focus while in the PsyD program would revolve around culture and grief. From what I have gathered from my clients is that having someone who uses an interpreter does not necessarily receive the same quality of services. Countless times I heard my clients share that they could not connect with the individual because their therapist did not understand their culture and words would get lost in translation. My career goal is to be able to give back to the community of the Central Valley, a community that has given me so much, by being able to provide therapeutic services.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I am the second youngest of five children. I am now the first in my family to have graduated from California State University, Fresno with a master’s degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. Numerous opportunities during my graduate studies have inspired me to continue with my education. But the most recent experience of losing a close friend and my fur baby has motivated me to pursue a career in mental health. Having lost both of them in the same year put many things into perspective, one of those being my education. The sudden loss of my friend, who was like a sister to me, came as a shock. I can still remember where I was when I heard the news of her passing. She was killed in a head-on collision; for the longest time, I was mad at the driver who caused the crash. But having a background in mental health, I knew anger was part of grief. As the year went on and as I was barely accepting her loss, my fur baby was taken from me unexpectedly. To me he was not just a dog, he was my companion and the child I never had. He went with me everywhere and did everything with me. So when he passed, I was yet again angry at the world for taking another loved one from me. Although I was able to process their passing, to this day I still miss them and think of them on a daily. Due to my lived experience, I am now able to connect better with my clients. For the past thirteen (13) years, I have dedicated my time to working with individuals in the community who are of different socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services that would aid them in overcoming barriers. Many of them have gone through grief themselves. My recent personal experience with grief has encouraged me to pursue a career in mental health so that I can be of service to those who are in need, as I have been before. In my personal view, receiving an education should be about having the ability to spread your knowledge to those around you and to make a positive impact on someone’s life. Receiving my education from the Clinical Psychology PsyD program will allow me to make a positive impact in the community. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically to those who are monolingual. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. The most common issue I have encountered has been the lack of mental health providers who emphasize in grief counseling that speak the same language as the client. My focus while in the PsyD program would revolve around culture and grief. From what I have gathered from my clients is that having someone who uses an interpreter does not necessarily receive the same quality of services. Countless times I heard my clients share that they could not connect with the individual because their therapist did not understand their culture and words would get lost in translation. My career goal is to be able to give back to the community of the Central Valley, a community that has given me so much, by being able to provide therapeutic services.

For the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals by empowering them and helping them to self-advocate for themselves. I have had the privilege to work with clients of different socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds. Being in a multicultural organization, volunteering in my community, and participating in several internships have continued to help me take an interest in other cultures other than my own. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. Being able to remove mental health barriers to employment and help empower clients along the way has been rewarding. The services have helped re-engage clients in school, employment, or other activities which will transition clients from welfare to work. My focus is on assisting individuals in becoming self-sufficient members of the community. Providing culturally and linguistically appropriate education, training, and linkage services to unserved and underserved individuals and families who may not typically seek services. A success story I have from working with this program is a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health, she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support her in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support my community, specifically in the mental health field. Culture is a big part of why I work for the community and applied to this doctoral program. Having lived and worked in an underserved community, being open to different cultures helps when working with a diverse population. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. In the last few months working with monolingual clients who are seeking mental health services has empowered me to pursue my education further. Lately, the most common issue I have encountered has been the lack of mental health providers that speak the same language as the client. From what I have gathered from my clients is that having someone who uses an interpreter does not necessarily receive the same quality of services. Countless times I heard my clients share that they could not connect with the individual because their therapist did not understand their culture and words would get lost in translation. My low-income background is what has inspired me to pursue a career in this field so that I can be of service to those who are in need of help as I have been before. To me that is what receiving an education should be about; to be able to spread your knowledge to those around you.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for themselves and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico, was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health, she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate degree. After my parents sacrificed so much for me, they are my motivation to continue pursuing higher education. Coming from a traditional Mexican background, mental health was never really talked about. We were taught to work hard and keep pushing forward. Never was it once said that taking a day off to relax was a good thing. It was not until I started my master’s program in counseling that I was taught that taking care of oneself is not selfish. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. A success story I have from working with this program is a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support her in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. Working with a mental health program has taken a toll on my own mental health, but it has also taught me techniques I can use to help with my own mental health. To this day, when I feel anxious or depressed, I will take a moment to acknowledge what I am feeling and work on coping with the symptoms in a positive way. I will either do some exercise that I enjoy or relax by reading a book. I have learned to take one day at a time, which helps with anxious thoughts. If I plan to be a mental health provider I must be able to practice what I preach. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support a diverse community, specifically in the mental health field.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for themselves and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico, was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health, she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate degree. After my parents sacrificed so much for me, they are my motivation to continue pursuing higher education. Coming from a traditional Mexican background, mental health was never really talked about. We were taught to work hard and keep pushing forward. Never was it once said that taking a day off to relax was a good thing. It was not until I started my master’s program in counseling that I was taught that taking care of oneself is not selfish. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. A success story I have from working with this program is a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support her in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. Working with a mental health program has taken a toll on my own mental health, but it has also taught me techniques I can use to help with my own mental health. To this day, when I feel anxious or depressed, I will take a moment to acknowledge what I am feeling and work on coping with the symptoms in a positive way. I will either do some exercise that I enjoy or relax by reading a book. I have learned to take one day at a time, which helps with anxious thoughts. If I plan to be a mental health provider I must be able to practice what I preach. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support a diverse community, specifically in the mental health field.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I am the second youngest of five children. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology. Numerous opportunities during my graduate studies have inspired me to continue with my education. But the most recent experience of losing a close friend and my fur baby has motivated me to pursue a career in mental health. Having lost both of them in the same year put many things into perspective, one of those being my education. When I am feeling down or need motivation I always turn to listening to music. That is how the song "shake it off" has helped me through some tough times. Last year when the sudden loss of my friend, who was like a sister to me, came as a shock. I can still remember where I was when I heard the news of her passing. She was killed in a head-on collision; for the longest time, I was mad at the driver who caused the crash. But having a background in mental health, I knew anger was part of grief. As the year went on and as I was barely accepting her loss, my fur baby was taken from me unexpectedly. To me he was not just a dog, he was my companion and the child I never had. He went with me everywhere and did everything with me. So when he passed, I was yet again angry at the world for taking another loved one from me. During the grieving process I tried to listen to music that was not sad, but inspiring. The lyrics "But I keep cruisin' Can't stop, won't stop movin' It's like I got this music in my mind Sayin', "It's gonna be alright". Helped me keep moving. Although I was able to process their passing, to this day I still miss them and think of them on a daily. Seeing how music helped me redirect my sad thoughts, I was able to use music when working with my clients. Shake it Off was one of the songs I would have my clients listen to to help them not think so much of their symptoms, but rather focus on the beat or lyrics of the song. My career goal is to be able to give back to the community by using techniques that involve music since I can see how listening to a song can be therapeutic.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for themselves and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico, was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health, she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. As a child, I remember my father working long hours, whether it be in the scorching sun or in the freezing cold so that he could provide us with the necessities. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. After my parents sacrificed so much for me, they are my reason to continue to excel in what I do. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate in psychology. Numerous opportunities during my graduate studies have inspired me to continue my education. My previous experiences in study abroad programs, internships, and employment have inspired me to continue with my education since I have noticed that I am limited in my role with the support I can offer my clients. Growing up in a low-income household taught me a lot about the social services that are offered, and the struggles families face in applying for them. Fortunately for my mother, I was bilingual and could support her along the process. But I saw many individuals who were not as fortunate and struggled to navigate the services. These experiences paved the way for me to give back to my community and always offer a helping hand. A success story I have from working in the mental health field is of a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support her in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. Clients like this have shown me that there is a need for mental health providers who speak the same language. Being able to provide therapeutic services to individuals who are monolingual is my future career aspiration. Learning from my clinical supervisor that language barriers can impact not only the correct diagnosis but also give a false impression of a client’s symptoms, motivated me to return to school. Although my clients had the ability to use an interpreter, they always shared that they felt that they were never fully understood. My studies will allow me to gain knowledge and skills that will support me in developing ongoing relationships with clients.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for themselves and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico, was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health, she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. As a child I remember my father working long hours, whether it be in the scorching sun or in the freezing cold, just so he could provide us with the basic necessities. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. Coming from a traditional Mexican background, mental health was never really talked about. We were taught to work hard and keep pushing forward. Never was it once said that taking a day off to relax was a good thing. It was not until I started my master’s program in counseling that I was taught that taking care of oneself is not selfish. The knowledge I have gained in mental health led me to pursing my doctorate in psychology. Although I have a diverse background from my study abroad programs, internships, and employment I know that by furthering my education I will be able to provide more services to my clients. After debating for sometime about if I should pursue my doctorate or continue in the workforce, the sudden loss of my friend, who was like a sister to me, made my decision for me. Her passing was the first time I experience grief. I can still remember where I was when I heard the news of her passing. She was killed in a head-on collision; for the longest time, I was mad at the driver who caused the crash. But having a background in mental health, I knew anger was part of grief. As the year went on and as I was barely accepting her loss, my fur baby was taken from me unexpectedly. To me he was not just a dog, he was my companion and the child I never had. He went with me everywhere and did everything with me. So when he passed, I was yet again angry at the world for taking another loved one from me. To help me with the grief I turned to helping others. As angry and depressed as I was with the world, I needed to get out of the rut I was in. I knew that by volunteering I would be able to interact with others therefore helping me with my depression. Volunteering at the animal shelter helped me feel connected with my community. Being able to give up some of my time to be able to support the shelter animals is very rewarding. I will be honest, it does break my heart every time I walk in and see so many dogs in the shelter. But I focus on the positive, that if I can at least make one dog’s day better by showing them love or taking them for a walk, then I have achieved my goal for the day. Although volunteering helped me process their passing, to this day I still miss them and think of them on a daily. Due to my lived experience, I am now able to connect better with my clients. For the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals by empowering them and helping them to self-advocate for themselves. I have had the privilege to work with clients of different socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds. Being in a multicultural organization, volunteering for the Red Cross, and participating in several internships have continued to help me take an interest in other cultures other than my own. I have learned about academic achievement, community service, cultural awareness, leadership and professional advancement through these experiences. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services or community referrals that would aid them in overcoming barriers they may have. Some of the barriers consumers have been faced with were lack of transportation, employment, housing, as well as mental health and educational services. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. Being able to remove mental health barriers to employment and help empower clients along the way has been rewarding. My focus when working with clients was on assisting individuals in becoming self-sufficient members of the community. Providing culturally and linguistically appropriate education, training, and linkage services to unserved and underserved individuals and families who may not typically seek services. A success story I have from working in the mental health field is of a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only speaking Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. Working with a mental health program has taken a toll on my own mental health, but it has also taught me techniques I can use to help with my own mental health. To this day, when I feel anxious or depressed, I will take a moment to acknowledge what I am feeling and work on coping with the symptoms in a positive way. I will either do some exercise that I enjoy or relax by reading a book. I have learned to take one day at a time, which helps with anxious thoughts. If I plan to be a mental health provider I must be able to practice what I preach. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support my community, specifically in the mental health field. After careful consideration, I have decided to pursue my education at Alliant International University in the PsyD program. I spoke with several alumni from the program who shared their experiences with the program. Culture is a big part of why I work for the community and applied to this doctoral program. Having lived and worked in the central valley, being open to different cultures helps when working with a diverse population. It is important to me to be able to gain knowledge and guidance from faculty members that speak the same language. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. In the last few months working with monolingual clients who are seeking mental health services has empowered me to pursue my education further. Lately, the most common issue I have encountered has been the lack of mental health providers that speak the same language as the client. Some individuals are fortunate that their Medi-Cal provides access to interpreters in their language. My goal in the next 10 years would be to complete the PsyD program to be able to provide culturally appropriate services specifically in the same language. I would like to study the effects the use of an interpreter has in treatment. From what I have gathered from my clients is that having someone who uses an interpreter does not necessarily receive the same quality of services. Countless times I heard my clients share that they could not connect with the individual because their therapist did not understand their culture and words would get lost in translation. My low-income background is what has inspired me to pursue a career in this field, so that I can be of service to those who are in need of help as I have been before. To me that is what receiving an education should be about; to be able to spread your knowledge to those around you.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for them and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate degree. After my parents sacrificed so much for me, they are my motivation to continue in pursuing a higher education. Coming from a traditional Mexican background, mental health was never really talked about. We were taught to work hard and keep pushing forward. Never was it once said that taking a day off to relax was a good thing. It was not until I started my master’s program in counseling that I was taught that taking care of oneself is not selfish. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. A success story I have from working with this program is a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to support her through navigating community resources as well as teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support her in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which led to a successful discharge from our program. Working with a mental health program has taken a toll on my own mental health, but it has also taught me techniques I can use to cope with the symptoms. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support a diverse community, specifically in the mental health field. My goal in the next 10 years would be to complete the PsyD program to be able to provide culturally appropriate services specifically in the same language. I would like to study the effects the use of an interpreter has in treatment. From what I have gathered from my clients is that having someone who uses an interpreter does not necessarily receive the same quality of services. Countless times I heard my clients share that they could not connect with the individual because their therapist did not understand their culture and words would get lost in translation. My low-income background is what has inspired me to pursue a career in this field, so that I can be of service to those who are in need of help as I have been before. To me that is what receiving an education should be about; to be able to spread your knowledge to those around you.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for them and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate degree. After my parents sacrificed so much for me, they are my motivation to continue in pursuing a higher education. Coming from a traditional Mexican background, mental health was never really talked about. We were taught to work hard and keep pushing forward. Never was it once said that taking a day off to relax was a good thing. It was not until I started my master’s program in counseling that I was taught that taking care of oneself is not selfish. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. A success story I have from working with this program is a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support her in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. Working with a mental health program has taken a toll on my own mental health, but it has also taught me techniques I can use to help with my own mental health. To this day, when I feel anxious or depressed, I will take a moment to acknowledge what I am feeling and work on coping with the symptoms in a positive way. I will either do some exercise that I enjoy or relax by reading a book. I have learned to take one day at a time, which helps with anxious thoughts. If I plan to be a mental health provider I must be able to practice what I preach. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support a diverse community, specifically in the mental health field.

Throughout the years I have had the opportunity to learn a lot about selflessness. To me giving back to my community is the definition of selflessness. Although I can not provide monetary gifts to the locations I volunteer with, I can give them my time and help as much as I can. Selflessness to me is helping others without wanting anything back in return. Currently I volunteer at the animal shelter, whenever time allows, but I support the staff in cleaning after the shelter animals. Being able to give up some of my time to be able to support the shelter animals is very rewarding. I will be honest, it does break my heart every time I walk in and see so many dogs in the shelter. But I focus on the positive, that if I can at least make one dog’s day better by showing them love or taking them for a walk, then I have achieved my goal for the day. I also just started volunteering with a local church, where I support staff in cleaning and attending to church members/staff. Working for the church I can spend time with folks who walk into the café and need a listening ear. I just started and am still learning my way around the café but its rewarding spending my free time helping others by just listening to them. Professionally, the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals with different socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds. Culture is a big part of why I work for the community. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. During my work experience I enjoyed working with Spanish-only speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services or community referral that would aid them in overcoming barriers they may have. Some of the barriers consumers have been faced with were lack of transportation, employment, housing, as well as mental health and educational services. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. A success story I have from working with this program is a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling navigating the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. My focus while in the PsyD program would revolve around culture, specifically language. My low-income background has encouraged me to pursue a career in this field, so that I can be of service to those who are in need, as I have been before. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support a diverse community, specifically in the mental health field.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for themselves and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico, was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. My parent's sacrifice and strong work ethic have empowered me to never give up and continue with my education. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology. For the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals by empowering them and helping them to self-advocate for themselves. I have had the privilege to work with clients of different socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds. Being in a multicultural organization, volunteering for the Red Cross, and participating in several internships have continued to help me take an interest in other cultures other than my own. I have learned about academic achievement, community service, cultural awareness, leadership and professional advancement through these experiences. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. Being able to remove mental health barriers to employment and help empower clients along the way has been rewarding. Providing culturally and linguistically appropriate education, training, and linkage services to unserved and underserved individuals and families who may not typically seek services. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support my community, specifically in the mental health field. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. My low-income background is what has inspired me to pursue a career in this field so that I can be of service to those who are in need of help as I have been before. To me that is what receiving an education should be about; to be able to spread your knowledge to those around you.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for themselves and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico, was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. My parent's sacrifice and strong work ethic have empowered me to never give up and continue with my education. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology. For the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals by empowering them and helping them to self-advocate for themselves. I have had the privilege to work with clients of different socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds. Being in a multicultural organization, volunteering for the Red Cross, and participating in several internships have continued to help me take an interest in other cultures other than my own. I have learned about academic achievement, community service, cultural awareness, leadership and professional advancement through these experiences. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. Being able to remove mental health barriers to employment and help empower clients along the way has been rewarding. Providing culturally and linguistically appropriate education, training, and linkage services to unserved and underserved individuals and families who may not typically seek services. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support my community, specifically in the mental health field. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. My low-income background is what has inspired me to pursue a career in this field so that I can be of service to those who are in need of help as I have been before. To me that is what receiving an education should be about; to be able to spread your knowledge to those around you.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for themselves and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico, was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. My parent's sacrifice and strong work ethic have empowered me to never give up and continue with my education. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology. For the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals by empowering them and helping them to self-advocate for themselves. I have had the privilege to work with clients of different socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds. Being in a multicultural organization, volunteering for the Red Cross, and participating in several internships have continued to help me take an interest in other cultures other than my own. I have learned about academic achievement, community service, cultural awareness, leadership and professional advancement through these experiences. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. Being able to remove mental health barriers to employment and help empower clients along the way has been rewarding. Providing culturally and linguistically appropriate education, training, and linkage services to unserved and underserved individuals and families who may not typically seek services. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support my community, specifically in the mental health field. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. My low-income background is what has inspired me to pursue a career in this field so that I can be of service to those who are in need of help as I have been before. To me that is what receiving an education should be about; to be able to spread your knowledge to those around you.

For the past ten years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals by empowering them and helping them to self-advocate. I have had the privilege to work with clients of different socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. Being able to remove mental health barriers to employment and help empower clients along the way has been rewarding. Providing culturally and linguistically appropriate services to unserved and underserved individuals and families who may not typically seek services. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support my community, specifically in the mental health field. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. My low-income background is what has inspired me to pursue a career in this field so that I can be of service to those who are in need of help as I have been before. To me that is what receiving an education should be about; to be able to spread your knowledge to those around you

From all four houses the one I resonate best with is, Hufflepuff since they are known for their hard work. The values of dedication, patience, and loyalty are also traits I possess. Growing up all I was taught was to be a hard worker and to dedicate my time to my studies. My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for themselves and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico, was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. My parent's sacrifice and strong work ethic have empowered me to never give up and continue with my education. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology. For the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals by empowering them and helping them to self-advocate for themselves. I have had the privilege to work with clients of different socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds. Being in a multicultural organization, volunteering for the Red Cross, and participating in several internships have continued to help me take an interest in other cultures other than my own. I have learned about academic achievement, community service, cultural awareness, leadership and professional advancement through these experiences. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. Being able to remove mental health barriers to employment and help empower clients along the way has been rewarding. Providing culturally and linguistically appropriate education, training, and linkage services to unserved and underserved individuals and families who may not typically seek services. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support my community, specifically in the mental health field. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. My low-income background is what has inspired me to pursue a career in this field so that I can be of service to those who are in need of help as I have been before. To me that is what receiving an education should be about; to be able to spread your knowledge to those around you.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for themselves and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico, was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health, she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate degree. After my parents sacrificed so much for me, they are my motivation to continue pursuing higher education. Coming from a traditional Mexican background, health was never really talked about. We were taught to work hard and keep pushing forward. Never did the topic of health was ever brought up let alone enforced. Unfortunately, the Mexican culture loves to cook with unhealthy ingredients, so naturally, the food we eat would be unhealthy. It was not until I started working for a holistic program that the importance of health was a priority to me. My work with the holistic program led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person's overall health. A success story I have from working with this program is a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support her in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. Working with a holistic approach program has taken a toll on my own mental health, but it has also taught me techniques I can use to help with my own mental health. To this day, when I feel anxious or depressed, I will take a moment to acknowledge what I am feeling and work on coping with the symptoms in a positive way. I noticed that my mental health was tied to my physical health. When I would eat unhealthy food or lounge around for too long, I would become depressed. To help I would either do some exercise that I enjoy or the very least go on a walk. When I worked on my physical health I noticed that my symptoms of sadness would decrease. If I plan to be a mental health provider I must be able to practice what I preach. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support a diverse community, specifically in the mental health field.

Throughout the years I have had the opportunity to learn a lot about selflessness. To me giving back to my community is the definition of selflessness. Although I can not provide monetary gifts to the locations I volunteer with, I can give them my time and help as much as I can. Selflessness to me is helping others without wanting anything back in return. Currently, I volunteer at the animal shelter, whenever time allows, but I support the staff in cleaning after the shelter animals. Being able to give up some of my time to be able to support the shelter animals is very rewarding. I will be honest, it does break my heart every time I walk in and see so many dogs in the shelter. But I focus on the positive, that if I can at least make one dog’s day better by showing them love or taking them for a walk, then I have achieved my goal for the day. I also just started volunteering with a local church, where I support staff in cleaning and attending to church members/staff. Working for the church I can spend time with folks who walk into the café and need a listening ear. I just started and am still learning my way around the café but it's rewarding to spend my free time helping others by just listening to them. Professionally, for the past ten (10) years, I have dedicated my time to working with individuals with different socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds. Culture is a big part of why I work for the community. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services or community referrals that would aid them in overcoming barriers they may have. Some of the barriers consumers have been faced with were lack of transportation, employment, housing, as well as mental health and educational services. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. A success story I have from working with this program is a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support her in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. My focus while in the PsyD program would revolve around culture, specifically language. My low-income background has encouraged me to pursue a career in this field so that I can be of service to those who are in need, as I have been before. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support a diverse community, specifically in the mental health field.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for themselves and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico, was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health, she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. As a child, I remember my father working long hours, whether it be in the scorching sun or in the freezing cold so that he could provide us with the necessities. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. After my parents sacrificed so much for me, they are my reason to continue to excel in what I do. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate in psychology. Numerous opportunities during my graduate studies have inspired me to continue my education. My previous experiences in study abroad programs, internships, and employment have inspired me to continue with my education since I have noticed that I am limited in my role with the support I can offer my clients. Growing up in a low-income household taught me a lot about the social services that are offered, and the struggles families face in applying for them. Fortunately for my mother, I was bilingual and could support her along the process. But I saw many individuals who were not as fortunate and struggled to navigate the services. These experiences paved the way for me to give back to my community and always offer a helping hand. A success story I have from working in the mental health field is of a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support her in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. Clients like this have shown me that there is a need for mental health providers who speak the same language. Being able to provide therapeutic services to individuals who are monolingual is my future career aspiration. Learning from my clinical supervisor that language barriers can impact not only the correct diagnosis but also give a false impression of a client’s symptoms, motivated me to return to school. Although my clients had the ability to use an interpreter, they always shared that they felt that they were never fully understood. My studies will allow me to gain knowledge and skills that will support me in developing ongoing relationships with clients.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for themselves and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico, was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health, she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate degree. After my parents sacrificed so much for me, they are my motivation to continue in pursuing a higher education. Growing up in a low-income household taught me a lot about the social services that are offered and the struggles families face in applying for them. Fortunately for my mother, I was bilingual and could support her along the process. But I saw many individuals who were not as fortunate and struggled to navigate the services. These experiences paved the way for me to give back to my community and always offer a helping hand. For the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals with different socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds. Culture is a big part of why I work for the community. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services or community referrals that would aid them in overcoming barriers they may have. Some of the barriers consumers have been faced with were lack of transportation, employment, housing, as well as mental health and educational services. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. A success story I have from working with this program is a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support her in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. My focus while in the PsyD program would revolve around culture, specifically language. My low-income background has encouraged me to pursue a career in this field so that I can be of service to those who are in need, as I have been before.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I am the second youngest of five children. I am now the first in my family to have graduated from California State University, Fresno with a master’s degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. Numerous opportunities during my graduate studies have inspired me to continue with my education. But the most recent experience of losing a close friend and my fur baby has motivated me to pursue a career in mental health. Having lost both of them in the same year put many things into perspective, one of those being my education. The sudden loss of my friend, who was like a sister to me, came as a shock. I can still remember where I was when I heard the news of her passing. She was killed in a head-on collision; for the longest time, I was mad at the driver who caused the crash. But having a background in mental health, I knew anger was part of grief. As the year went on and as I was barely accepting her loss, my fur baby was taken from me unexpectedly. To me he was not just a dog, he was my companion and the child I never had. He went with me everywhere and did everything with me. So when he passed, I was yet again angry at the world for taking another loved one from me. Although I was able to process their passing, to this day I still miss them and think of them on a daily. Due to my lived experience, I am now able to connect better with my clients. For the past thirteen (13) years, I have dedicated my time to working with individuals in the community who are of different socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services that would aid them in overcoming barriers. Many of them have gone through grief themselves. My recent personal experience with grief has encouraged me to pursue a career in mental health so that I can be of service to those who are in need, as I have been before. In my personal view, receiving education should be about having the ability to spread your knowledge to those around you and to make a positive impact on someone’s life. Receiving my education from the Clinical Psychology PsyD program will allow me to make a positive impact in the community. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically to those who are monolingual. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. The most common issue I have encountered has been the lack of mental health providers who emphasize grief counseling that speak the same language as the client. My focus while in the PsyD program would revolve around culture and grief. From what I have gathered from my clients is that having someone who uses an interpreter does not necessarily receive the same quality of services. Countless times I heard my clients share that they could not connect with the individual because their therapist did not understand their culture and words would get lost in translation. My career goal is to be able to give back to the community of the Central Valley, a community that has given me so much, by being able to provide therapeutic services.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for them and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico, was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate degree. After my parents sacrificed so much for me, they are my motivation to continue in pursuing a higher education. Coming from a traditional Mexican background, mental health was never really talked about. We were taught to work hard and keep pushing forward. Never was it once said that taking a day off to relax was a good thing. It was not until I started my master’s program in counseling that I was taught that taking care of oneself is not selfish. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. A success story I have from working with this program is a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support her in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. Working with a mental health program has taken a toll on my own mental health, but it has also taught me techniques I can use to help with my own mental health. To this day, when I feel anxious or depressed, I will take a moment to acknowledge what I am feeling and work on coping with the symptoms in a positive way. I will either do some exercise that I enjoy or relax by reading a book. I have learned to take one day at a time, which helps with anxious thoughts. Countless times I have found myself deep breathing to help regulate my emotions. If I plan to be a mental health provider I must be able to practice what I preach. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support a diverse community, specifically in the mental health field.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for them and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico was the sole provider for our family. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate degree. After my parents sacrificed so much for me, they are my motivation to continue in pursuing a higher education. Growing up in a low-income household taught me a lot about the social services that are offered and the struggles families face in applying for them. Fortunately for my mother, I was bilingual and could support her along the process. But I saw many individuals who were not as fortunate and struggled to navigate the services. These experiences paved the way for me to give back to my community and always offer a helping hand. The past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals with different socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds. Culture is a big part of why I work for the community. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services or community referrals that would aid them in overcoming barriers they may have. Some of the barriers consumers have been faced with were lack of transportation, employment, housing, as well as mental health and educational services. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. A success story I have from working with this program is a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support her in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed. My focus while in the PsyD program would revolve around culture, specifically language. My low-income background has encouraged me to pursue a career in this field, so that I can be of service to those who are in need, as I have been before.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for them and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate degree. After my parents sacrificed so much for me, they are my motivation to continue in pursuing a higher education. Coming from a traditional Mexican background, mental health was never really talked about. We were taught to work hard and keep pushing forward. Never was it once said that taking a day off to relax was a good thing. It was not until I started my master’s program in counseling that I was taught that taking care of oneself is not selfish. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. A success story I have from working with this program is a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support her in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. Working with a mental health program has taken a toll on my own mental health, but it has also taught me techniques I can use to help with my own mental health. To this day, when I feel anxious or depressed, I will take a moment to acknowledge what I am feeling and work on coping with the symptoms in a positive way. I will either do some exercise that I enjoy or relax by reading a book. I have learned to take one day at a time, which helps with anxious thoughts. If I plan to be a mental health provider I must be able to practice what I preach. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support a diverse community, specifically in the mental health field.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for them and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate degree. After my parents sacrificed so much for me, they are my motivation to continue in pursuing a higher education. Coming from a traditional Mexican background, mental health was never really talked about. We were taught to work hard and keep pushing forward. Never was it once said that taking a day off to relax was a good thing. It was not until I started my master’s program in counseling that I was taught that taking care of oneself is not selfish. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. A success story I have from working with this program is a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support her in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. Working with a mental health program has taken a toll on my own mental health, but it has also taught me techniques I can use to help with my own mental health. To this day, when I feel anxious or depressed, I will take a moment to acknowledge what I am feeling and work on coping with the symptoms in a positive way. I will either do some exercise that I enjoy or relax by reading a book. I have learned to take one day at a time, which helps with anxious thoughts. If I plan to be a mental health provider I must be able to practice what I preach. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support a diverse community, specifically in the mental health field.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for them and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate degree. After my parents sacrificed so much for me, they are my motivation to continue in pursuing a higher education. Coming from a traditional Mexican background, mental health was never really talked about. We were taught to work hard and keep pushing forward. Never was it once said that taking a day off to relax was a good thing. It was not until I started my master’s program in counseling that I was taught that taking care of oneself is not selfish. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. A success story I have from working with this program is a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support her in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. Working with a mental health program has taken a toll on my own mental health, but it has also taught me techniques I can use to help with my own mental health. To this day, when I feel anxious or depressed, I will take a moment to acknowledge what I am feeling and work on coping with the symptoms in a positive way. I will either do some exercise that I enjoy or relax by reading a book. I have learned to take one day at a time, which helps with anxious thoughts. If I plan to be a mental health provider I must be able to practice what I preach. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support a diverse community, specifically in the mental health field.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for them and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate degree. After my parents sacrificed so much for me, they are my motivation to continue in pursuing a higher education. Coming from a traditional Mexican background, mental health was never really talked about. We were taught to work hard and keep pushing forward. Never was it once said that taking a day off to relax was a good thing. It was not until I started my master’s program in counseling that I was taught that taking care of oneself is not selfish. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. A success story I have from working with this program is a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support her in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. Working with a mental health program has taken a toll on my own mental health, but it has also taught me techniques I can use to help with my own mental health. To this day, when I feel anxious or depressed, I will take a moment to acknowledge what I am feeling and work on coping with the symptoms in a positive way. I will either do some exercise that I enjoy or relax by reading a book. I have learned to take one day at a time, which helps with anxious thoughts. If I plan to be a mental health provider I must be able to practice what I preach. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support a diverse community, specifically in the mental health field.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for themselves and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico, was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health, she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate degree. After my parents sacrificed so much for me, they are my motivation to continue pursuing higher education. Coming from a traditional Mexican background, mental health was never really talked about. We were taught to work hard and keep pushing forward. Never was it once said that taking a day off to relax was a good thing. It was not until I started my master’s program in counseling that I was taught that taking care of oneself is not selfish. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. A success story I have from working with this program is a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support her in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. Working with a mental health program has taken a toll on my own mental health, but it has also taught me techniques I can use to help with my own mental health. To this day, when I feel anxious or depressed, I will take a moment to acknowledge what I am feeling and work on coping with the symptoms in a positive way. I will either do some exercise that I enjoy or relax by reading a book. I have learned to take one day at a time, which helps with anxious thoughts. If I plan to be a mental health provider I must be able to practice what I preach. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support a diverse community, specifically in the mental health field.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for themselves and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico, was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health, she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate degree. After my parents sacrificed so much for me, they are my motivation to continue in pursuing a higher education. Growing up in a low-income household taught me a lot about the social services that are offered and the struggles families face in applying for them. Fortunately for my mother, I was bilingual and could support her along the process. But I saw many individuals who were not as fortunate and struggled to navigate the services. These experiences paved the way for me to give back to my community and always offer a helping hand. For the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals with different socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds. Culture is a big part of why I work for the community. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services or community referrals that would aid them in overcoming barriers they may have. Some of the barriers consumers have been faced with were lack of transportation, employment, housing, as well as mental health and educational services. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. A success story I have from working with this program is a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support her in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. My focus while in the PsyD program would revolve around culture, specifically language. My low-income background has encouraged me to pursue a career in this field so that I can be of service to those who are in need, as I have been before.

My low-income background has encouraged me to pursue a career in the mental health field so that I can be of service to those who are in need, as I have been before.

Throughout the years I have had the opportunity to learn a lot about selflessness. To me giving back to my community is the definition of selflessness. Although I can not provide monetary gifts to the locations I volunteer with, I can give them my time and help as much as I can. Selflessness to me is helping others without wanting anything back in return. Currently I volunteer at the animal shelter, whenever time allows, but I support the staff in cleaning after the shelter animals. Being able to give up some of my time to be able to support the shelter animals is very rewarding. I will be honest, it does break my heart every time I walk in and see so many dogs in the shelter. But I focus on the positive, that if I can at least make one dog’s day better by showing them love or taking them for a walk, then I have achieved my goal for the day. I also just started volunteering with a local church, where I support staff in cleaning and attending to church members/staff. Working for the church I can spend time with folks who walk into the café and need a listening ear. I just started and am still learning my way around the café but its rewarding spending my free time helping others by just listening to them. Professionally, the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals with different socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds. Culture is a big part of why I work for the community. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. During my work experience I enjoyed working with Spanish-only speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services or community referral that would aid them in overcoming barriers they may have. Some of the barriers consumers have been faced with were lack of transportation, employment, housing, as well as mental health and educational services. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. A success story I have from working with this program is a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling navigating the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. My focus while in the PsyD program would revolve around culture, specifically language. My low-income background has encouraged me to pursue a career in this field, so that I can be of service to those who are in need, as I have been before. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support a diverse community, specifically in the mental health field.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for them and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico, was the sole provider for our family. Due to my mother having numerous difficulties with her health, she was not able to work and help my father provide financial support. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate degree. After my parents sacrificed so much for me, they are my motivation to continue in pursuing a higher education. Growing up a luxurious trip to Disneyland was never an option, we had other priorities such as feeding our family and paying bills. Hearing my friends talk about their family trips to Disney was hard, but I understood that my family was not in a place to make trips like that. It was not until I was 23 years old, that I was able to save enough money to be able to go for my first time. The inner child in me came out as soon as I entered the parking lot. I remember being the first of my friends to run up to the park entrance because I wanted to be the first to go in. The smile that came on my face when I bought the Micky ears and saw the princess castles, still remember it to this day. The rides were exciting, but not as exciting as seeing the Disney characters. Being able to spot characters I saw growing up was memorable. My goal is to be able to take my parents so they can experience the same excitement I did. My favorite thing about Disney is that no one judges you for being childlike. Disney is a place where people of all ages can go and experience being a child again.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I am the second youngest of five children. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology. Numerous opportunities during my graduate studies have inspired me to continue with my education. But the most recent experience of losing a close friend and my fur baby has motivated me to pursue a career in mental health. Having lost both of them in the same year put many things into perspective, one of those being my education. When I am feeling down or need motivation I always turn to listening to music. That is how the song "shake it off" has helped me through some tough times. Last year when the sudden loss of my friend, who was like a sister to me, came as a shock. I can still remember where I was when I heard the news of her passing. She was killed in a head-on collision; for the longest time, I was mad at the driver who caused the crash. But having a background in mental health, I knew anger was part of grief. As the year went on and as I was barely accepting her loss, my fur baby was taken from me unexpectedly. To me he was not just a dog, he was my companion and the child I never had. He went with me everywhere and did everything with me. So when he passed, I was yet again angry at the world for taking another loved one from me. During the grieving process I tried to listen to music that was not sad, but inspiring. The lyrics "But I keep cruisin' Can't stop, won't stop movin' It's like I got this music in my mind Sayin', "It's gonna be alright". Helped me keep moving. Although I was able to process their passing, to this day I still miss them and think of them on a daily. Seeing how music helped me redirect my sad thoughts, I was able to use music when working with my clients. Shake it Off was one of the songs I would have my clients listen to to help them not think so much of their symptoms, but rather focus on the beat or lyrics of the song. My career goal is to be able to give back to the community by using techniques that involve music since I can see how listening to a song can be therapeutic.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I was born and raised in a smaller town within the central valley, Visalia, California; I am the second youngest of five children. My family has lived in poverty ever since I can remember. My father and mother came from Mexico to pursue the American dream—a better life for themselves and their children. My father, with the little education he received in Mexico, was the sole provider for our family. With the minimal education my father received, his employment opportunities were limited and the only employment he was able to obtain here in the United States was in agricultural labor. As a child I remember my father working long hours, whether it be in the scorching sun or the cold, just so he could provide us with the necessities. My father worked hard so his children would be able to focus on their education and obtain the type of education that he never could. My parent's sacrifice and strong work ethic have empowered me to never give up and continue with my education. I am now the first in my family to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology. Individuals from my study abroad programs, internships, and employment have empowered me by letting me know that if I further my education I will be able to provide more services to my clients. For the past ten (10) years I have dedicated my time to working with individuals by empowering them and helping them to self-advocate for themselves. I have had the privilege to work with clients of different socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds. Being in a multicultural organization, volunteering for the Red Cross, and participating in several internships have continued to help me take an interest in other cultures other than my own. I have learned about academic achievement, community service, cultural awareness, leadership and professional advancement through these experiences. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services or community referrals that would aid them in overcoming barriers they may have. Some of the barriers consumers have been faced with were lack of transportation, employment, housing, as well as mental health and educational services. My work with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health has on a person. Being able to remove mental health barriers to employment and help empower clients along the way has been rewarding. The services have helped re-engage clients in school, employment, or other activities which will transition clients from welfare to work. My focus is on assisting individuals in becoming self-sufficient members of the community. Providing culturally and linguistically appropriate education, training, and linkage services to unserved and underserved individuals and families who may not typically seek services. A success story I have from working with this program is a client who was diagnosed with anxiety and was also struggling to navigate the social services in the community. Along with the struggle of her mental health, she also only spoke Spanish. During her time with the program, I was able to utilize my person-center and motivational interviewing training to support her through navigating the resources in the community. As part of her treatment, I was able to teach her coping skills such as deep breathing and mindfulness techniques to support her in managing her anxiety. After working with her for a year she was able to reach her treatment goals which allowed her to have a successful discharge from our program. I have enjoyed all the valuable information I have received from my past experiences, and I feel that further education is needed to be able to support my community, specifically in the mental health field. After careful consideration, I have decided to pursue my education at Alliant International University in the PsyD program. I spoke with several alumni from the program who shared their experiences with the program. Culture is a big part of why I work for the community and applied to this doctoral program. Having lived and worked in an underserved community, being open to different cultures helps when working with a diverse population. It is important to me to be able to gain knowledge and guidance from faculty members that speak the same language. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically those who are monolingual. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. In the last few months working with monolingual clients who are seeking mental health services has empowered me to pursue my education further. Lately, the most common issue I have encountered has been the lack of mental health providers that speak the same language as the client. Some individuals are fortunate that their Medi-Cal provides access to interpreters in their language. My goal in the next 10 years would be to complete the PsyD program to be able to provide culturally appropriate services specifically in the same language. I would like to study the effects the use of an interpreter has on treatment. From what I have gathered from my clients is that having someone who uses an interpreter does not necessarily receive the same quality of services. Countless times I heard my clients share that they could not connect with the individual because their therapist did not understand their culture and words would get lost in translation. My low-income background is what has inspired me to pursue a career in this field so that I can be of service to those who are in need of help as I have been before. To me that is what receiving an education should be about; to be able to spread your knowledge to those around you.

A cell phone and the internet is a great piece of technology that brings everyone together. I was one of the fortunate individuals to grow up with an old cell phone like the Nokia where you had to press a key multiple times to write out a word. At that time it was easy and difficult to stay connected with a phone. The phone plans were not as affordable to everyone. But the stories that we created are now memories that I and my friends can look back on and laugh about. For instance where we could not call each other until past 9 pm or we would get charged. Now it's as simple as talking into your phone to be able to create a sentence. Although some smartphones can be complicated for the older generation, it is still essential to help them understand the new technology that is now helping us stay connected. The best memory I have of a smartphone is when I taught my father how to use it. Although it was frustrating at the beginning to teach him how to use it, it was worth it in the end. The smile on his face when he sent his first text message or when search for his first YouTube video. I know there is a lot of controversy that cell phones are actually disconnecting people from one another due to all the screen time we use. But I feel the opposite due to living an hour away from my parents and not being able to visit them as often as I can. A cell phone has made the world a better place through the connection it allows us to have when we don't have the luxury to visit family.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I am the second youngest of five children. I am now the first in my family to have graduated from California State University, Fresno with a master’s degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. Numerous opportunities during my graduate studies have inspired me to continue with my education. But the most recent experience of losing a close friend and my fur baby has motivated me to pursue a career in mental health. Having lost both of them in the same year put many things into perspective, one of those being my education. The sudden loss of my friend, who was like a sister to me, came as a shock. I can still remember where I was when I heard the news of her passing. She was killed in a head-on collision; for the longest time, I was mad at the driver who caused the crash. But having a background in mental health, I knew anger was part of grief. As the year went on and as I was barely accepting her loss, my fur baby was taken from me unexpectedly. To me he was not just a dog, he was my companion and the child I never had. He went with me everywhere and did everything with me. So when he passed, I was yet again angry at the world for taking another loved one from me. Although I was able to process their passing, to this day I still miss them and think of them on a daily. Due to my lived experience, I am now able to connect better with my clients. For the past thirteen (13) years, I have dedicated my time to working with individuals in the community who are of different socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services that would aid them in overcoming barriers. Many of them have gone through grief themselves. My recent personal experience with grief has encouraged me to pursue a career in mental health so that I can be of service to those who are in need, as I have been before. In my personal view, receiving an education should be about having the ability to spread your knowledge to those around you and to make a positive impact on someone’s life. Receiving my education from the Clinical Psychology PsyD program will allow me to make a positive impact in the community. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically to those who are monolingual. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. The most common issue I have encountered has been the lack of mental health providers who emphasize in grief counseling that speak the same language as the client. My focus while in the PsyD program would revolve around culture and grief. From what I have gathered from my clients is that having someone who uses an interpreter does not necessarily receive the same quality of services. Countless times I heard my clients share that they could not connect with the individual because their therapist did not understand their culture and words would get lost in translation. My career goal is to be able to give back to the community of the Central Valley, a community that has given me so much, by being able to provide therapeutic services.

My name is Rachel Ochoa, I am the second youngest of five children. I am now the first in my family to have graduated from California State University, Fresno with a master’s degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. Numerous opportunities during my graduate studies have inspired me to continue with my education. But the most recent experience of losing a close friend and my fur baby has motivated me to pursue a career in mental health. Having lost both of them in the same year put many things into perspective, one of those being my education. The sudden loss of my friend, who was like a sister to me, came as a shock. I can still remember where I was when I heard the news of her passing. She was killed in a head-on collision; for the longest time, I was mad at the driver who caused the crash. But having a background in mental health, I knew anger was part of grief. As the year went on and as I was barely accepting her loss, my fur baby was taken from me unexpectedly. To me he was not just a dog, he was my companion and the child I never had. He went with me everywhere and did everything with me. So when he passed, I was yet again angry at the world for taking another loved one from me. Although I was able to process their passing, to this day I still miss them and think of them on a daily. Due to my lived experience, I am now able to connect better with my clients. For the past thirteen (13) years, I have dedicated my time to working with individuals in the community who are of different socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services that would aid them in overcoming barriers. Many of them have gone through grief themselves. My recent personal experience with grief has encouraged me to pursue a career in mental health so that I can be of service to those who are in need, as I have been before. In my personal view, receiving an education should be about having the ability to spread your knowledge to those around you and to make a positive impact on someone’s life. Receiving my education from the Clinical Psychology PsyD program will allow me to make a positive impact in the community. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically to those who are monolingual. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish-only-speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. The most common issue I have encountered has been the lack of mental health providers who emphasize in grief counseling that speak the same language as the client. My focus while in the PsyD program would revolve around culture and grief. From what I have gathered from my clients is that having someone who uses an interpreter does not necessarily receive the same quality of services. Countless times I heard my clients share that they could not connect with the individual because their therapist did not understand their culture and words would get lost in translation. My career goal is to be able to give back to the community of the Central Valley, a community that has given me so much, by being able to provide therapeutic services.

While working in the community, it has inspired me to further my education. Being introduced to different cultures has showed me that working in a diverse environment was the field of work I wanted to pursue. For the past thirteen (13) years, I have dedicated my time to work with individuals with different socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds. Being in a multicultural organization, volunteering at a local church and animal shelter has continued to help me take an interest in other cultures other than my own. I have learned about community service, cultural awareness, leadership, and academic achievement through these experiences. I have worked one-on-one with consumers by providing them with services that would aid them in overcoming barriers. For example, some of the disadvantage’s consumers have been faced with are lack of housing, mental health, and educational services. Also, my low-income background has encouraged me to pursue a career in this field, so that I can be of service to those who are in need, as I have been before. In my personal view, receiving an education should be about having the ability to spread your knowledge to those around you and to make a positive impact in someone’s life. Working with the community led me to pursue a career in the mental health field. I saw the need and benefits mental health can have on a person. Furthermore, culture is a big part of why I work for the community. I know firsthand that in the Central Valley, one is open to different cultures, which helps when working with a diverse population. Receiving my education from the Clinical Psychology PsyD program will allow me to make a postive impact in the community. The goal for me to obtain a higher education is for me to be able to give back to my community, specifically to those who are monolingual. During my work experience, I enjoyed working with Spanish only speaking clients, but I also noticed that clients struggled to find mental health services with providers who speak their language. Next, while working for the community, the most common issue I have encountered has been the lack of mental health providers that speak the same language as the client. Some individuals are fortunate that their Medi-Cal provides access to interpreters in their language. My focus while in the PsyD program would revolve around culture, specifically language. I would like to study the effects the use of an interpreter has in treatment. From what I have gathered from my clients is that having someone who uses an interpreter does not necessarily receive the same quality of services. Countless times I heard my clients share that they could not connect with the individual because their therapist did not understand their culture and words would get lost in translation. My career goal is to be able to give back to the community of the Central Valley, a community that has given me so much, by being able to provide therapeutic services.