Making A Difference
Valerie Mercado '15
Hailing from Puerto Rico, Valerie Mercado ’15 came to MCLA to make a difference. Initially a student within the biology department, Mercado’s academic trajectory changed when a sociology class in women’s studies sparked her interest. The health science classes were not as engaging to her as the social work and case management courses that she came across. Upon being opened up to this new field, Mercado was driven to be an asset to her home community.
“I switched to studying sociology with a minor in women’s studies because I wanted to become a counselor,” she explained. “Where I’m from, many women are victims of abusive relationships and they don’t get out of them because they don’t know any better; somehow, that abuse has just been a part of our culture. I want to help those who survive those encounters and help them heal and eventually better themselves.”
Earlier this semester, Mercado landed an internship at the Elizabeth Freeman Center in North Adams, MA. Her work there has provided her with the experience that she needs to move forward with her selected career path.
“My internship really inspired me to chase my dream of becoming a women’s counselor so that I can make a difference. I may even consider pursuing a Ph.D. so that I can eventually open my own practice,” she stated.
Mercado knows that she has a journey ahead of her in order to achieve this dream, but before she gets there, she will take the time to celebrate the fact that she is about to accomplish a dream that she previously set for herself: obtaining her Bachelor’s degree. In just a few weeks, Mercado will participate in a time honored tradition with her fellow classmates where she walks through the gates at MCLA to receive her degree.
Between the time that she arrived at MCLA as a student and will leave as an alumna this May, Mercado made sure to get the very best liberal arts experience by participating in a number of clubs and activities outside of her academic workload including the Latin American Society Club, Dance Company, and Phonathon. Of these experiences, Phonathon has been one of the most impactful because it allowed her to make a difference before graduating and becoming a counselor.
“I love to hear alumni stories and I love the fact that I get to help raise funds for the next generation of students,” she exclaimed. “Many students depend on the support of our alumni, myself included, so to know that my efforts help fund someone else’s education means a lot to me.”
As Mercado prepares for the next step of achieving her goal, she is thoughtful about the impact that she wants to leave behind.
“Honestly, I wish I could leave those coming after me all the money they need so that they can get through college, but since I can’t do that, I would like to leave my story. Hopefully, it would inspire them to make a difference just as I want to make a difference."