Arroyo, Cristina (Cristina)

 

Hi everyone! My name is Cristina Arroyo, pronouns she/her/hers and I am a fourth year double majoring  in Chicana/o/x & Central American Studies and Sociology. I was born and raised in Santa Ana, Ca, but my parents are from Michoacán. Like many of you, I'm sure, I did not learn about Mexican/Chicanx/Latine history throughout my public education years until I began to attend UCLA. As a result, I decided to major in the department to learn as much as I could throughout my undergrad. I love learning about the culture through art and the way different artists choose to express their thoughts and feelings with their audience.

I find that in my experience within my Mexican culture the expression of emotions and feelings tends to be a taboo topic which can lead to internal struggles as well as generational trauma. Mental health journeys can be difficult to navigate and I love that art can often be a tool that can help. I hope to pursue a Masters in Social Work in order to later become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. I believe that my experiences as a first-generation, Latina woman will provide assistance to others who may have encountered struggles similar to mine. I also hope to create safe spaces for individuals to have these challenging conversations and navigate their mental health journeys. 

This class peaked my interest because of the emphasis on the Chicana experience and expression through art. The women's experience is way too often overlooked, overshadowed, and ignored altogether. I hope to learn about these experiences and apply the interpretations into my own life and future work. The act of conversation is one of the most important interactions we can have and I look forward to discussing the artwork and readings of this class with you all.