Proud NWEdA Alum: Irina’s Story

Originally from Ecuador, Irina moved to Seattle during her senior year of high school to live with her father, hoping for better opportunities in the US. “We didn't think college was a possibility where I was in Ecuador,” she shared. But soon after arriving, things unraveled quickly. “My father, unfortunately, has substance use issues; he wasn't paying rent, so I was dealing with a lot of stress [...]. I was very depressed because of it. So I was really struggling with my mental health, with my schoolwork. Everything was just falling apart.”

 “I'm very proud that I was able to push through and get my education despite it being so difficult at the time, mentally and financially.”

Irina

At risk of dropping out and facing housing insecurity, Irina reached out to her school therapist who connected her to two organizations. One was for housing, and the other was Northwest Education Access, at the time known as Seattle Education Access. “I didn't even think I could finish my senior year of high school, it wasn't even a thought. I just needed housing immediately,” she said.

When Irina connected with Seattle Education Access, she worked with Jennifer, her first Education Advocate. “When I started looking into it [college], it just was impossible for me at the time. And then I got connected to my Education Advocate, and it was just all from there.[...] She'd really just break it [applying to college and navigating financial aid] down for me and make it so much easier.”

She enrolled at North Seattle College, and, although Irina continued to face mental health challenges and family issues, accessing financial aid was no longer a barrier to pursuing her education goals. “I was dealing with my mental health stuff, so, having Jen at the time [...] was so nice to meet with someone who cared about me, who knew me, who I enjoyed seeing. ”

Over time, Irina got connected with NWEdA tutors for math and statistics, and other resources. “They [NWEdA] helped me get connected to housing as well. It ended up being not a great environment, but it helped at least get me on my feet,” she said. 

Irina eventually transferred to the University of Washington and graduated in 2021 with a bachelor's degree in Psychology. She had originally chosen that path inspired by her school therapist. “She helped me so much that I wanted to do something similar to her,” she said. But over time, she realized her passion lay elsewhere. At the time, she was very insecure about her math and science abilities and avoided STEM paths. “I wish I would have had more faith in myself and gone a different route. But now I work in public health and I do healthcare coordination, so it's a lot more like medical and scientific, and I like it a lot more.” 

Today, Irina works at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York on a project with the Department of Health, coordinating Hepatitis C treatment in different substance use centers, including methadone clinics and rehab facilities. It’s work that brings her full circle. “Having the background that I had with housing insecurity and being around substance use has also made me very empathetic and better at helping certain people. The patients that I work with are homeless or come from trauma or have similar experiences, and sometimes it's nice to be able to help them get the resources they need as well.”

When asked about her proudest accomplishments, Irina shared, “Looking back, I'm very proud that I was able to push through and get my education despite it being so difficult at the time, mentally and financially. [...] I found a lot of joy in it as well. I liked my education experience, I like the classes I took, I liked what I learned.”

She also learned some important lessons: “I think coming from a background like housing insecurity, it can make people very afraid of poverty. [...] So, in college [...] I worked in the highest-paying job that I could get at that time: [...] in restaurants. Because of the tips, it's going to be higher than a job at your college campus or an internship, but in the long run, those experiences are going to be very beneficial.” She advises current students to focus on their college experience: “Know that money is going to come later. But certain experiences, like internships, making connections with your professors, taking the time to be involved in your campus, those things are things that you can only do while you're a student.”

Reflecting on the support she received from NWEdA, Irina shared, “There are a lot of people out there who don't have opportunities equally, and they need an extra push. [...] To know that this organization was able to give me not only entry into education, but ensure that I finish my education when I wouldn't have been able to, it was just very, very valuable.” 

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