Wildcat Alumni Spotlight:
Samantha Duran
After graduating from JVL Wildcat in 2019, Samantha Duran continued to pursue her education in the medical field. She earned licenses in phlebotomy and electrocardiography (EKG). Currently, she is in the clinical phase of her Echocardiography Sonographer degree and works as a Medical Assistant for Vanguard Medical Group. During college she also took time to travel to Puerto Rico and Mexico.
Samantha is proud of: “Where I am now now, having a great job and continuing to get my certifications.”
Samantha’s best Wildcat memory: “Being close with the school staff like Alex. The teachers that helped me along the way like my history teacher and my science teacher Mr. G.”
Fun Fact: During her time at JVL Wildcat, Samantha was selected to work on a project with Eskolta School Research and Design. She was part of their publication on non-traditional high schools.
Samantha’s advice for current Wildcats: “Keep pushing through and it will be worth it.”
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
Why we need to pay attention to women's mental health
Mental health issues usually stem from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. As we know, men and women tend to experience different forms of societal pressure. Researchers are finding that this, along with differences in the brain, leave women more prone to psychological problems. These include higher rates of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders and substance use disorders. Increased awareness of these issues can help us disrupt patterns that allow these issues to continue. This resource from the Mental Health Coalition describes factors that lead to more mental health issues for women, as well as tips to work through the challenges.
Resource of the Month
The Door
The Door provides various resources to help empower young people. If you are between the ages of 12 and 24, you can become a member for free. Services include:
- College advisement and tutoring
- Employment and internship programs
- Creative arts classes, including performing and visual arts, music and dance
- Adolescent Health Center: primary care, sexual health and reproductive care, eye care, dental services, dermatology, and nutrition counseling
- Legal Services Center: legal counsel and advice, including support with immigration and family law and advice in criminal matters (offered in English, Spanish, and French)
- Resources for housing instability, including access to food, clothing, hygiene items, showers and laundry, and helping with shelter referrals and case management
- Bronx Youth Center: satellite location providing employment and education programming, criminal law clinic, counseling crisis services, food pantry, and regular recreational activities
To connect to any of these services, text The Door at 929-357-0768 or email membership@door.org.