Robles, Harlow (Harlow)

My name is Harlow Robles. I prefer to be called by my first name Harlow and my preferred pronouns are he/him. I am of Guatemalan descent and was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. I am a first year transfer student majoring in psychology. I chose psychology as a major because human and animal behavior, and their thought process, are interesting to me. The way in which certain people perceive the world around them and the reasoning behind their beliefs, has made me think about my own beliefs and why I have them. Are they innate or conditioned by the environment? In addition, I would like to work as a psychologist in order to help people who are struggling with mental health issues and who have made similar life choices as I have. I hope to obtain my B.A. in the next two years and start working for the Department of Mental Health. If all goes well, I would like to continue gaining a higher education and eventually obtain my PhD and become a Clinical Psychologist.

I am currently working nights for a non-profit organization that is helping people who are experiencing homelessness get the resources they need in order to obtain housing. It is not a shelter, it’s more of a recuperative care facility. While working there, I have been able to build relationships with a diverse group of co-workers and clients. I have also learned about the daily struggles that people experiencing homelessness face. 

Why am I taking this course? The reason I am taking this course is to learn more about the diversity in my culture and the way Chicana/o artists express themselves through art. I have friends and family who are graffiti artists. Since attending community college, I have learned that people have been expressing themselves through art for thousands of years. I used to think that graffiti art was different from the painting one would see in a museum. It didn't dawn on me that it was a way for graffiti artists to express their thoughts about the world they live in.  For me, I am hoping this course is going to help me understand the thinking behind Chicano/a art.