Wildcat Alumni Spotlight:
Destiny Dean
After graduating from JVL Wildcat in 2019, Destiny began college at CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She started her studies as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, so she did most of her work virtually. She originally wanted to study criminal justice, but has since changed her major to Deviance, Crime, & Culture (DCC) studies. Destiny is interested in why people commit crimes and why certain groups of people commit crimes more than others.
Destiny is most proud of: “Not dropping out of college. Many times I've wanted to, but I haven't! I will finish in a year and a half."
Destiny's favorite memories from JVL Wildcat include: the senior class trip, visiting different colleges with her classmates and teachers, and talking with her favorite staff including Dr. Peters, Ms. Wilde, and Fred. She also enjoyed dropping into Mr. Tabano's office unexpectedly to say "hi."
Destiny's advice for future Wildcat students: “Definitely speak to someone you feel comfortable with and trust at the school. They are there to help you and will help you. Everyone at JVL Wildcat wants to help. Also, don't feel obligated to go to college, trade school is great too! Take some time to figure out what's best for YOU."
Fun Fact: Destiny is very interest in genealogy and ancestry. Her family is originally from the Bahamas, but she recently found out on ancestry.com that she is 5% Ashkenazi Jewish!
If you know of or are, yourself a Wildcat Superstar Alum who would like to share an inspiring story with our community, we would love to hear from you! Email counseling@jvlwildcat.org
Troubled Teen Relationships & Dating Violence:
Recent studies have found that teenagers are engaged in toxic and controlling relationships are at risk for many problems, including both mental and physical ones, when they reach adulthood. It has also been found that teenagers engaged in these dating behaviors are, unfortunately, likely to repeat these patterns later in life.
Teenagers experiencing dating violence are also likely to drink alcohol, use drugs, smoke cigarettes, and smoke marijuana.
"Research studies focused on the effects of a variety of teen dating violence, including sexual, physical, cyber, and psychological abuse and linked these to depression in young women for up to 6 years following the relationship." In 2021, the CDC actually found that nearly 20% of teenage girls reported that they have been the victims of violent sexual behavior.
Parents are highly encouraged to talk to their teenagers in a way that meets their developmental level. "It's really important to have conversations, not just with girls, but also with boys, in terms of what are normal healthy relationships. That includes covering the topics of consent and respect,” said a parent when asked about the topic about teenagers and relationships. It's necessary to educate teenagers about what constitutes a healthy relationship and how it differentiates from an unhealthy one in order to stop this vicious cycle of dating violence from continuing to occur.
Resource of the Month:
Melanin & Mental Health
Melanin & Mental Health promotes and advocates for culturally competent clinicians to raise awareness about how mental health affects the Black and Latinx communities. Melanin & Mental Health makes it easy for minorities and BIPOC to find clinicians that look like them, understand their struggles, and want to help them heal and grow.
- Started by two melanin-rich women whose goals were to make mental health care more accessible and understand to Black and Latinx/Hispanic folks.
- Dedicated and committed to promote the growth and healing of BIPOC and their communities.
- Provides many FREE resources for BIPOC communities as well as for BIPOC therapists.
- Melanin & Mental Health creates podcasts, events, and webinars that help educate communities and advocate for mental health care for all people of color and minorities.
- "When you heal, the collective heals." -@melaninandmentalhealth