Disclaimer: Many storytellers here shared vulnerable experiences, which might be triggering to some. Please see below for resources.
UCSD Students: CAPS, Health Promotion Services, your College Deans of Student Affairs, Campus Community Centers.
UCSD Faculty and staff: Faculty and Staff Assistance Program, Staff Affiliate Groups, Work/Life Health & Wellness
UCSD All: CARE at SARC,
Anti-Racism Resources - Student Affairs and EDI
Community: RAINN, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, NEDA, Up2SD
Photography
Float Like A Butterfly
I remember hearing float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.
But before I can float I must first learn to fly. Most of the butterflies I know now,
Forgot they are wingless worms no more. Flying, they think, is only for the fortunate. They sit and they look and they talk instead. But flying and floating is not about words, And it is too late for me,
As I have seen what they look like. They light up the sky with dancing and colors, So graceful and Devine.
I too want to play in the suns delight! But now feeling this,
Looking down,
I get why they just talk instead.
It takes a lot of courage to jump.
But I am brave like my mother.
And I am strong like my father.
Now I leave these words here on this page, Because even they feel too heavy
For the lightness I need
For my resilience artwork I decided to use photography as my medium as well as poetry to display a feeling of resilience that is not commonly shown. I love to rear monarch butterflies and prefer to help them by using California native milkweed in order to help their overall sustainability. If they hatch inside I make sure to let every butterfly out into an open environment so they can live full and happy lives. The moment before they take off is something I think is beautiful to witness especially when it is their first time doing it. Sometimes it is only split seconds and at other times it takes longer depending on the butterfly. The variation in action just like humans is a beautiful connection to me. Normally I think resilience is glorified to be this trophy like thing where the cookie is at the END of the road but I think resilience is usually a long road traveled by many and usually the steps we take can look and feel unsettling and shaking at times. In spite of the fear and the doubt, resilience is about ones discipline to our true intuition to believe in ourselves and continue the work in order to succeed. My hardships in life do not define me or anyone for that matter and instead I choose to pay attention to my bravery and my love as a better way to fully express myself. Thanks to the resilience of many before me I can continue to put in the work to further all of us and keep us reaching higher and higher.
