Guadalupe Yamileth Ortiz Mejia

Name: Guadalupe Yamileth Ortiz Mejía
Age: 25
Major:  M.Ed. Counseling
Class: Graduate Student
College: College of Education and P-16 Integration
Hometown: Harlingen, TX
High School: Harlingen Early College High School, Harlingen, TX 

Why UTRGV?
As I thought of where to attend graduate school, I decided to choose UTRGV not only because I completed my bachelor’s degree here, but because it feels like home now. I have developed huge pride in being an alum. UTRGV has offered me the best professors, programs, and opportunities so close to my hometown. From amazing, caring professors to a study abroad program that gave me the opportunity to experience different cultures, it just felt right to continue my graduate studies here. The program that I am currently in has amazing professors and a prestigious accreditation that not every university has.

What made you decide on your current major?
I have always had a passion for mental health, and I also consider myself an advocate for mental health. About 49.5% of adolescents have suffered from a mental health disorder at some point in their lives. To me, going into the mental health field means being able to provide good mental health services, and continue to advocate for mental health for adolescents. After working for the P-16 Outreach and Testing Services Department, and networking and working with counselors in school districts, I started to look more into the field of counseling in a school setting. I believe that by being in this field it gives me the opportunity to support students not only academically but also during their years of growth and development.

What do you hope to achieve beyond completion of your major?
In the near future, I hope to be not only a high school counselor but also a mental health provider for future generations. 

What do you like most about UTRGV?
What I like the most about UTRGV are the opportunities that the university offers. When I first started at UTRGV I never imagined the university offered study abroad programs, all types of student resources/opportunities and a great variety of graduate programs.

What does being a Vaquero mean to you?
Being a Vaquero, to me, means having pride in the university I attend and embracing my culture. I’ve always loved that our mascot is a Vaquero, it makes me feel safe that my culture is being represented at a higher education institution, and it reminds me that even belonging to a minority group I can achieve so many things.

What opportunities has UTRGV helped you find throughout your community?
One of the opportunities that UTRGV has given me is the ability to give back to my community by working for the university. Knowing that I help other students in my community find their passions and assisting them in their college journey gives me a sense of happiness knowing I’m giving back to my community. I have met so many amazing people and staff from which I’ve learned so much throughout my years at UTRGV, and I am so grateful for everyone I’ve met.

What advice do you have for fellow students pursuing their degrees?
Something I can advise fellow students pursuing their degree to do is to not compare themselves with others. We must always remember that we are all here for one reason, and that is to obtain our degree. Although we all have the same goal, the way we get there can be very different for everyone. We all do our best and work hard by studying during the day or night, working full-time/part-time, with kids or no kids, etc. We are all different in our journeys and how we get to our destination only makes us unique.