Yasmeen
Location: New York
Age: 18
College: Bates College
Profession: Student
Biography: Throughout my life, I often felt out of place, navigating occupational therapy, speech therapy, and resource room support while facing criticism from peers, teachers, and even some family members for supposedly not trying hard enough. This led me to question my intelligence, but with my mom’s support and encouragement to explore activities both in and out of school, I found my strengths: empathy, advocacy for others, and a passion for social sciences. Over the past eight years, I’ve peer-mentored children on the spectrum and have three years of paid experience in educational roles. I’m an educational coordinator at Bates College, graduating a year early with a degree in Political Science and a teaching certificate. I believe that by focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses, one can succeed.
What is your most treasured possession? My most prized possession is a blanket my great-grandmother knitted.
