As a recent graduate of the 黑料网吃瓜爆料 (USF) with a degree in behavioral healthcare, Annielle Ramirez Maldonado reflects on a college journey defined by resilience, purpose, and heart. A first-generation Ecuadorian American student, Ramirez Maldonado balanced school, work, volunteerism, and caregiving to create change for her family and others like them.
鈥淚 will say that throughout my undergraduate progression, I learned a lot of different ideas and concepts behind what mental health is and how it encompasses a person,鈥� she said. 鈥淐oming from a first-generation Latino family, there鈥檚 a lack of discussion around mental health. I think one of the things that kept me moving was pursuing new opportunities with all the resources offered on campus, spending time with friends, and being active in my club."
That club was Special Olympics College at USF, a student organization she founded and led to create a community for athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She described it as a space where both athletes and volunteers alike could find belonging.
鈥淗aving my Special Olympics family will be one of the experiences I carry with me for the rest of my life,鈥� she said.
Annielle Ramirez Maldonado alongside a Special Olympics team.
Ramirez Maldonado鈥檚 motivation has always been deeply personal as a legal guardian to her younger brother, Benji, who is on the autism spectrum. She recalled a talent show years ago, where he sang his heart out to an Ecuadorian song while their family and his teachers cheered from the front row.
鈥淚t showed me that being able to support 鈥� not only just as a sister, but also as a behavioral health professional 鈥� the community aspect, the caring aspect, the push to do better, it reflects my values,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a big stigma within the autistic community that once you get a diagnosis, families are told their children will never go to college, get married, etc. But seeing that push to excel even when societal stigma is against you, drives my hopes of ending that stigma and is what keeps me going."
Ramirez Maldonado鈥檚 days were often packed from sunrise to nightfall. She juggled campus jobs, internships, and caregiving, often working full days before attending Special Olympics practice or weekend competitions.
鈥淥n Saturdays, we had Special Olympics competition events, and Tuesdays and Thursdays were our typical practice days,鈥� she said.
Amid her busy schedule, she still found time to complete USF's Global Citizens Project, a program designed to help students develop intercultural fluency and global awareness, in just two months. This spring, she was recognized with the prestigious Global Citizens Award, an honor that felt especially meaningful given her cultural background and academic focus.
Annielle Ramirez Maldonado (right) receiving her Global Citizens Award with Rahi Dayerizadeh, PhD, associate director of global learning campus programs
鈥淭here鈥檚 no such thing as being a first-generation student without having global awareness instilled in you,鈥� she said. 鈥淔rom the food I eat to the resources and TV I engage in, it鈥檚 all impacted by me being Ecuadorian American. When I heard about the Global Citizens Project from another first-gen student, I knew I had to get involved.鈥�
The program challenged her to think beyond borders and reflect on how policy, education, and stigma shape the lives of marginalized people around the world.
鈥淧olicy impacts our daily lives in one way or another, and that ultimately ties back to what鈥檚 happening on the international stage,鈥� she said.
Ramirez Maldonado completed more than 400 hours of volunteer service. Her work included research and internship roles at the , the Rightpath Research and Innovation Center, and the , each reinforcing her commitment to working with underserved communities.
Annielle Ramirez Maldonado participates in a community event.
鈥淎 great thank you to the team, CARD-黑料网吃瓜爆料team, the college faculty, and Dr. Bee for all the amazing opportunities and events you have included me in over the years. My professional and career development would not have been possible without your guidance and support.鈥�
She also attended events like Peace Corps coffee hours, which opened her eyes to how international service work could become a part of her future. She plans to apply to the Peace Corps and related AmeriCorps programs after graduation and hopes to continue her education through graduate and doctoral programs focused on the field of behavioral health. Her dream is to become the kind of advocate families like hers can trust 鈥� someone who doesn鈥檛 need cultural translation to understand their values and needs.
鈥淚 want to be able to meet with a family and not have to feel like we need to explain the societal or cultural divides,鈥� she said. 鈥淢aking sure that there are women like me, coming from backgrounds in third world countries, represented in these spaces 鈥� that鈥檚 what pushes me forward.鈥�
To students balancing demanding responsibilities, she offers this advice: 鈥淚f you ever have an opportunity that pushes you to be in an uncomfortable place or pushes you to put your skills to the test or maybe develop new skills 鈥� try it. I think those undergraduate years are the times for not only trial and error, but also to discover what is possible. So, do your research and go to that club, meeting, or late-night lecture session, because you never know what connection you will make that might lead to your next adventure.鈥�