# @ucsandiego on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/C8fAK0xpJAs
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/27958483-ucsandiego-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/f801917b73.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-06-21T16:27:03.000+00:00

## Caption

“Coming to America as a 7th grader was one big crash course. Learning English and acclimating to a new culture felt like I was constantly playing catch-up with my peers. Luckily, my inspiring parents raised me to believe I was capable of anything I set my mind to. My parents devoted their whole lives to me and left their home country to give me a better future, and in return, I just hope to make them proud. 

UC San Diego had been my dream school since a very young age. I longed to spend my afternoons on the beach, but moving away from home and family felt like a daunting decision. My family gave me the courage to take the leap and coming to UCSD has been my greatest accomplishment. I have found an abundance of community and opportunity during my time as an undergrad. I prioritized cultivating new friendships and trying out clubs I would discover on flyers around campus. I got involved with the Armenian Student Association, UCSD Pre-Dental Society, became an academic tutor at Preuss School, and was an educational mentor at the Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC).

For the ECEC, I wrote a book titled “I Have a Name”, with the help of my best friend’s illustrations, and gifted it to Room 8. The goal of the book was to support the social-emotional development and self-regulation of kids, so they can learn to utilize their words to communicate their feelings. The book discourages name-calling and teaches the importance of friendship and respect. 

As I move onto the next chapter of my life, I hope to become an Autism Specialist and Dentist specializing in Orthodontics. Even when life gets tough, know that everything you need to beat those odds is within you right now. Don’t accept the box people might put you in, get up and do all it takes.”

— Mineh, Balushian (she/her/hers), B.S. Biology and Human Developmental Sciences, Class of 2024 
#TritonStories #UCSanDiego #UCSDGrad #UCSD2024 #UCSDAlumni #FirstGen

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 2,582
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- **Comments:** 8

## Tags

firstgen, ucsdalumni, ucsdgrad, tritonstories, ucsd2024, ucsandiego

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