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SHRS Counseling graduate student Jackilyn Garces (center) with her partner Edwin (left) and mother Fanny Maria Garces (right) in Cartegena, Colombia

SHRS Counseling graduate student Jackilyn Garces (center) with her partner Edwin (left) and mother Fanny Maria Garces (right) in Cartegena, Colombia

It's officially Hispanic Heritage Month, which takes place from September 15 to October 15 and is recognized as a time to celebrate the history and culture of Latinx and Hispanic communities in the United States. I can't help but reflect on how my Latinx heritage has influenced so much of my life!

On August 2021, I headed off to the University of Pittsburgh as a first-generation graduate student proudly staking claim to my Latinx heritage. I was born and raised in Miami, Florida, to parents who emigrated from Colombia 30 years ago, and have always been immersed in a unique population filled with a mix of languages and cultures.

The colorful, welcoming neighborhood of Getsemani in Cartagena, Colombia.

The colorful, welcoming neighborhood of Getsemani in Cartagena, Colombia

My upbringing in the United States was entwined with my Colombian culture. I learned to toggle between speaking English and Spanish, which proved an asset to pursuing a higher education. My mother, a housekeeper, never made it past high school education. My father, an entrepreneur, made a name for himself with a high school diploma and a strong work ethic. My mother would say, “¡No te rindas, no dejes de estudiar!” ("Don't give up, don't stop studying!")  as she emphasized my privilege of being bilingual. 

Living in Miami, Spanish was spoken on every street corner and I was accustomed to being exposed to a wide variety of Hispanic communities. When I moved from Miami to Pittsburgh, I learned that being Hispanic is the minority here, but this new environment encouraged me to discover a new sense of belonging by expressing my Hispanic identity. Because I am the only Latina in my cohort, I learned how important it is to have representation. It made me realize how important representation is to other people—especially to people of color who are underrepresented in academia.

Jackilyn at SHRS in Forbes Tower

Jackilyn at SHRS in Forbes Tower

Pursuing my master’s degree in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) gave me the opportunity to embrace my Latina identity. During my studies, I realized that many Latinx people face a language barrier and stigmatization when seeking mental health services. There is a saying in Spanish, "la ropia sucia se lava en casa," which roughly translates to, "don't air your dirty laundry in public." Speaking about mental health in the Hispanic/Latinx culture is taboo. In my experience as a Latina, people suffering from anxiety or depression are sometimes categorized as "nervios" ("nervousness"), while people suffering from bipolar, and schizophrenia are often labeled as "locos" ("crazies"). Unfortunately, this kind of labeling discourages individuals from coming forward and speaking openly about struggles with mental health. 

My use of Spanish in the program has opened the door for meaningful conversations within the Hispanic community through my involvement with Casa San Jose, Pittsburgh’s resource center for Latinx immigrants. With the help of Antonia Rivera, the mental health coordinator at Casa San Jose, my advocacy group has initiated breaking the stigma by presenting virtual monthly psychoeducational workshops to Hispanic youths. Being the only Latina in my cohort motivated me to represent my Hispanic identity through leadership by becoming the president of the Counseling Student Association at the University of Pittsburgh (CSAP). Through this leadership role, I plan to create a space for my peers to have meaningful conversations, to network and foster community.  

Jackilyn thriving at Pitt! 

Moving forward with my career as a “consejera” (“counselor”), I plan to mark an end to the taboo of discussing mental health in my family and I hope to do the same for the Hispanic/Latinx community at large. I am currently interning at the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System serving veterans in need of vocational assistance. Supporting the unique needs of the military community is of specific interest to me both personally and professionally. As a partner to a Puerto Rican veteran, I recognize and understand the importance of appreciating the positions that our military are placed in. There is a great need for Latinx mental health counselors in federal spaces, where decisions about funding and policies are taking place. Since coming to Pittsburgh, I’ve found my “camino” (“path”) to carving out my professional identity while still maintaining and nurturing my Hispanic roots.  

Cartagena, Colombia

Cartagena, Colombia

Written by:  

Jackilyn Garces 

Clinical Mental Health and Rehabilitation Counseling, Class of 2023 

Learn more about the SHRS Counseling program by visiting our page or reaching out to us today at enroll@shrs.pitt.edu!

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Published September 28, 2022