In a recent article published by EPCC News, Isaiah DeSantos, a 20-year-old psychology student at El Paso Community College (EPCC), shared his journey into mental health advocacy and his experience with the college's mental health services, known as EPCC Cares. DeSantos, who found his calling during the COVID-19 pandemic, now stresses the importance of addressing the psychological needs of students, which often extend beyond academic stress to include financial burdens and personal struggles.
The young student emphasized the intersection of his homeschooling background and the pandemic's disruptive force, saying, "I wanted 2020 to be the year where I could be involved and experience different things I thought I was missing out on being homeschooled… obviously, the year didn't go as planned," as per EPCC News, a sentiment that reflects both the collective disruption and personal challenges faced during that tumultuous time, DeSantos found solace in his high school psychology class, where he felt a sense of community and understanding under the guidance of Mr. Sierra, who brought energy and care to the curriculum.
Grateful for the community and learning environment at EPCC, DeSantos has been particularly appreciative of the college's commitment to student mental health. Reflecting on the pressures his peers face, he said, as obtained by EPCC News, "Many of us work long hours to afford tuition and other expenses while also navigating stressful relationships at home and in school," which paints a picture of the all-encompassing challenges that college students often juggle. The introduction of EPCC Cares, a mental health service for students, caught his immediate attention as an invaluable resource for his continued advocacy and personal development.
