Week 6 - Jessica Garza A04

“On Some College Campuses, a Focus On Asian American Mental Health” by New American Media brings to light the mental health of struggling asian americans in universities. Although some experience depression, many asian americans are reluctant to seek help. Only once their illness is intense and inescapable then they reach out for help and services. However, not all asian americans seek help, at Cornell University 55% of suicides were by people of asian decent. Only 14% of the population at Cornell are asian american. There are many elements which go into poor mental health amongst the asian american community. These include societal and private challenges these issues include; the model minority pressure, family expectations, international students, as well as racism & discrimination.

“Precariously Positioned: Asian American Women Students Negotiating Power in Academia” by Shannon Deloso Master’s degree candidate at UCLA illustrates her experiences as a Filipina American and how it has led her to defend and fight for the Ethnic studies department at San Francisco State University. She explains that as a Filipina American first generation college student, she felt the pressure to choose a major which would promise a steady career. However, she was drawn to Asian American studies which gave her voice and empowered her to become a high ranked student representative. Her parents were accepting of her choice to change majors which empowered her even more. Deloso’s background as a submissive female in Filipino culture fueled her to fight for what she believed in even more. She believed that the asian american studies department is essential to her education and rights. When the budget for the department was slashed she decided to become an activist student and organize with her peers. Even through banal meetings between the university administration and students her and colleagues remained strong. The fight continued and she stayed strong and stood up for her rights even when faced with adversity.