STUDENT PROFILES

Clementina jose '21

I am so humbled and blessed to be the recipient of the Queens College Senior Class Legacy Scholarship award for the Class of 2021. I am thankful for the thoughtful consideration of the committee as well as the generosity and selflessness that the class of 2021 has displayed. This scholarship has given me the ability to finish off my studies with ease, knowing that my financial responsibilities have been alleviated.

I grew up in a family where success was not an option. My father migrated from Nigeria with only $13 dollars in his back pocket, yet he mustered up the strength to fund his education through various odd jobs and eventually acquired his masters and PhD from NYU, within a decade. Not to mention, when my mother came to America shortly after, she also obtained her bachelors while raising both my brother and I. However, after my father became ill and was diagnosed with depression, my mother then had to take on various financial burdens, including putting me through school.

However, I came to college with a mission which was to make the most of every opportunity that I was given and to make my parents proud. Throughout my undergraduate career, I have interned within 3 mental health organizations and 2 non profit organizations, where I performed various tasks such as administrative work, secretarial duties, shadowed group therapy sessions with qualified mental health professionals, created academic plans for over aged students within the DOE, etc. Additionally, on campus I have been blessed to work as a Resident Assistant within the Summit Apartments where I support and counsel residents. Not to mention, I am a present E-board member on the African Students Association, where I track the development of the social media page, I also work as a peer mentor within the First Year Experience group, and I was a fellowship participant within the Center for Ethnic, Racial and Religious Understanding, otherwise known as CERRU. To add, I had the pleasure of working with Dr. Desiree Byrd on campus to complete the Opioid Overdose Responder training and later received my certification. I also completed the peer counselor training prerequisite off campus and I have received my certification as well. Furthermore, I have been awarded the Esther's Book Fund Scholarship four times in a row as well as the David M. Guskin Scholarship on campus.

At Queens College, I am graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and luckily, I have been accepted to various masters programs in social work. My short term goal is to start my masters in social work, this fall 2021 and my long term goal is to become a clinical social worker/community clinician, with my target population being middle school and high school students within public school systems. I would be committed to improving the world today and future generations through perseverance, outstanding research and practice. All together, I plan to develop into an innovator who will advance the theoretical and empirical bases of knowledge in the social sciences.

I am thankful that I am one step closer to making my dreams become a reality and I can’t thank Queens College enough for the experiences that I can treasure for a lifetime. I also am thankful for my family members who have supported me thus far and most importantly my creator, who has made all things possible in spite of the strife that I have endured. It is my hope and prayer that through my story, that others can be inspired to be a blessing unto their generation and be a trailblazer in their prospective field!