Yvonne Tran, Psychology

Mental health advocacy has been a large part of Yvonne Tran’s experience at Stockton University and will continue to be, thanks to the spark ignited in her by Associate Professor Zornitsa Kalibatseva and her course “Culture and Mental Health.” 

“My career goal is to become a clinical psychologist—to provide representation and education to communities that are limited in knowledge or accessibility to mental health services,” said Tran, of Galloway. “She taught and instilled in me a great sense of cultural awareness and sensitivity to the non-western world. As a woman of color, I was amazed to learn more about the impact of culture and how it affects one’s perception of mental health.”

Tran has a unique perspective that will help future clients of hers relate more to her and make understanding the significance of mental health more comprehensible. This wasn’t always the case for her, however, as she doubted her abilities as a student and woman of color at first.

“Pursuing an education and career in a predominantly white field, full of students who seem assured of themselves often makes me question if I belong or if I deserve to be here,” Tran shared. “Truthfully, this obstacle in my life is very difficult to overcome at such a young age, but I have my whole life ahead of me to learn to navigate in a world where there will always be obstacles such as this. It’s a matter of surrounding myself with people who will always be there to support and encourage me, which makes me more resilient in the face of challenges.”

Those people included other members of her student organizations, Circle K International and Stockton’s Stress Management Club. Along with supportive friendships, Tran gained unique opportunities for student leadership.

“I joined Circle K as a freshman and loved the welcoming atmosphere of the club. They are the reason why I pushed myself to become a leader and contribute to the community by engaging in service, fellowship and leadership. I’m forever grateful to the club as it gifted me lifelong friendships and the opportunity to lead a wonderful group of people with my fellow executive board members.

“In addition, I took on a leadership role for Stockton’s Stress Management Club. It has been a pleasure to work alongside such amazing friends while implementing activities that assist students in coping with stress.”

Tran also had a significant opportunity to expand on her clinical knowledge in the psychology field when she interned for the Mental Health Association in the spring of 2022. 

“My time at the Mental Health Association is so invaluable,” Tran said. “I started as an intern, in which I learned to work one-on-one with clients living with mental health disorders. This goal-oriented program, known as the Peer Support Outreach Team, places me in the role of a peer supporter for my clients. In addition, I learned to facilitate online support groups for our online community called United by Wellness.”

Tran plans to take a year to work with them full-time after graduating, in addition to applying to graduate school, volunteering in psychological research and taking more road trips with her boyfriend – this is all due to the positive experience she had as an intern.

“Starting off as an intern was probably the most intimidating experience, especially when you’re reaching out to folks who may or may not be interested in seeking help,” Tran said. “Almost like any novice task you’re assigned, you worry you might make a mistake or fail.

“However, my fellow interns and my amazing supervisor, Carolyn Quinn, have done more than enough to make me feel like I belong with their support and guidance. Each client I have worked with has taught me to expand my knowledge and skills in empathy and patience.”