Britney Granados

Tell us a little about yourself…

Hello. My name is Britney and I am a fourth year psychology major at UC Irvine! I transferred

from El Camino college and am a first-generation student.

What is your connection to Orange County?

Since I attend UC Irvine, I find myself around Orange County quite a bit when volunteering,

studying, or exploring.

Share a little bit of your outlook on life…

I tend to be a bit more optimistic when it comes to how I view life. I think being optimistic is

productive and allows us to reach our highest potential.

What is your favorite book?

One of my favorite books is I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez. As a

Hispanic student myself, this book provided a sense of comfort as a female pursuing higher

education.

What is your favorite self-care activity?

My favorite self-care activity is going on walks while listening to music.

What drew you to being involved with community mental health work or

advocacy?

As a transfer student I have faced my fair share of mental health struggles. When I first

transferred, I felt a degree of imposter syndrome. My own experiences made me passionate

about mental health and helping those around me feel better. If my own story could help

someone feel less alone, I would do anything to help them.

What do you think Orange County can do more of to help reduce the stigma

surrounding mental health?

I think Orange County can provide more affordable or free of charge resources for people in the

community. Additionally, I think other people within the community should be recruited to share

their own story with mental health so that others can feel less alone and more inclined to talking

about a vulnerable topic.

How did transferring from a community college to a 4 year university affect your

mental health?

I faced a degree of imposter syndrome, in other words that I did not belong. My journey to UCI

was not easy and took a couple of turns along the way. Once I recognized that I was feeling that

way I practiced self-care and reminded myself that I worked hard to get to a four year university.

Additionally, I sought out mentorship from transfer students that had already gone through the

same thing.

What advice do you have for a student who is currently in the transfer process?

I would advise them to connect with other transfer students so that they are able to talk with

people who are going through similar challenges as them. Once I connected with other transfer

students, I found a sense of belonging and formed a community.

Why do you think youth/young adults should attend community mental health

events, like those hosted by Connect-OC?

I think it is important to educate those in the community about mental health early on, that way

they can be better equipped to take care of their mental health as they grow up.