Scholar Voices: 4 Tips for living and thriving with depression

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States; around 7% of all U.S. adults have had at least one major depressive episode. Among the most prevalent demographics of MDD diagnoses are college students like Earl Woods Scholars. Individuals between 18-25 are more likely to have depression. Based on my own experiences with depression, I’m hoping that some of these musings alongside tips I’ve learned along the way might help.
Scholar Voices: My journey to college and career success

Although my academic career at Pitzer College has come to an end, my learning journey will not. Two weeks prior to graduation, the foreseeable future was ironically still abstract and difficult for me to grasp. It brought me a feeling of excitement and nostalgia, encouraging me to reflect on my last four years at Pitzer College and six years as an Earl Woods Scholar.
Scholar Voices: My Semester in Florence, Italy

Within two and a half weeks, I realized the significance and impact of friendship on the other side of the globe. I have had friends back home for years, many of whom I met during my first two years at Stony Brook University in New York. However, the ones I met throughout my study abroad experience in Florence, Italy were memorable. These friends were significant because through them and my short time abroad, I came to realize something about myself and learned exactly how I was meant to live my life.
Scholar Voices: My Journey to becoming a Dartmouth College Grad

With graduation on the horizon, I cannot help but reflect on my personal growth over the last four years. College has definitely served as a formative experience in my life – one where I’ve had several opportunities to critically engage with my identity.
Scholar Voices: My Andean Journey through Cusco, The Inca and Peru

The summer of sophomore year can be a very difficult time in the life of the average college student. Between choosing a discipline and finding a career, there is an overwhelming amount of pressure on the student to find a project that will help them further their professional goals. For many, summer plans usually involve taking on internships, doing research or enrolling in summer courses while others decide to work or take trips around the world. During the summer of my sophomore year at the University of California, Berkeley, I had the privileges of doing a little bit of both. Through my Anthropology class, I spent several weeks exploring, working in and experiencing the breathtaking beauty that is Peru.
Scholar Voices: An original Earl Woods Scholar guides the next generation

We called ourselves “The First Five.” That summer of 2008, Avni, Omar, Pau, Stephanie and I (thought we) were the coolest kids at the TGR Learning Lab. In our pre-planned, color-coordinated outfits, we assisted teachers and students in building mouse trap cars and launching rockets.
Interspersed with all the fun, we learned from community and business leaders how to build our résumés, network with professionals and present with confidence. I’m not entirely sure, but I think that was the last time I ended a presentation with an awkward grin and a “…So yeah.” In my current position as an Academic Counselor at UC Irvine, I enjoy mentoring students through college and toward their graduate school and career goals.
Scholar Voices: My Summer Internship with the Los Angeles Rams

This past summer, I was granted the opportunity to work as an intern in the athletic training department for the Los Angeles Rams. This opportunity was beyond phenomenal because when I was a child the game of football and the way the players would move with such grace and body control always intrigued me. The thought of working alongside professional athletic trainers, doctors and high-caliber athletes gave me another reason to be enthusiastic about summer.
Scholar Voices: My Journey to Google and Stanford University

Computers have always enthralled me. As a child, I was spellbound by my family’s old Dell computer. For nearly a decade, I would go onto different websites solely to learn more about computers. It didn’t always come easily – like when I installed a virus trying to make a website – but I ultimately grew very comfortable behind a keyboard. I sought to understand the mechanics of computers, and I built my own computer the same year I took my AP Computer Science course. My passion for computers has led me to many exciting opportunities.
Scholar Voices: My Life at Lehigh

In our latest Scholar Voices feature, we hear from rising Lehigh University junior Tsion Taye. A Washington, D.C. native and an Earl Woods Scholar, Tsion takes us inside her first two years as a college student, highlighting some memorable life experiences. Proceeds from tournaments like next week’s Quicken Loans National help us provide the support and resources necessary for students like Tsion to achieve their dreams.
Scholar Voices: My Journey from Scholar to Civil Engineer

For a long time, back to my high school days, I remember wanting to become a civil engineer at my dad’s advice. I’ve had my eye on this particular goal in large part because I had a strong desire to help communities by designing and implementing safe civil infrastructure. As an Earl Woods Scholar and with the support of my family, I set my dreams in motion when I was accepted as an engineering student at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo.