JULIE GRASSIAN, MASTER of PUBLIC HEALTH & MASTER of SOCIAL WELFARE CANDIDATE

Job title: 
L&S Mentor
Department: 
Public Health
Bio/CV: 
PRONOUNS: SHE/HER/HERS
Julie received her B.A. from UCLA with a major in Psychology and minor in Public Health. After graduation, she worked as the Program Coordinator for the UCLA Women's Health Education & Research Center, and developed a mentorship program at UCLA for underrepresented undergraduate students interested in the public health field. Julie is currently a second year Masters of Public Health & Masters of Social Welfare student at Berkeley, with a focus in children and adolescent health. Julie is also a Berkeley Hope Scholar. 
Mentoring Interests: 
  • First-generation/underrepresented students 
  • Independent student/prior foster youth 
  • Transition to college/mental health 
  • Resume/cover letter writing; applying to jobs 
  • Applying to graduate school
What do you enjoy talking about with undergrads? 
I enjoy talking about building community in undergrad and how to find campus organizations that fit your interests/personal experiences, as well as navigating college as a first-gen/underrepresented student. I am happy to provide career counseling, whether that be building a resume or just talking through what your major/career interests are, and providing tips for how to network with professors/professionals. I can also provide guidance for applying to post-grad jobs and graduate school. Also happy to just chat in general about how things are going for you at Cal! 
What is one thing you wish you would have known as an undergrad? 

It is okay to ask for help. No one is expecting you to know all the answers coming into college and it's okay to lean on others for guidance and support. As an independent student, I supported myself throughout college and did not have parental guidance to navigate college. I felt like I had to figure things out on my own and "prove myself" that I was meant to be at a college like UCLA. In my first quarter at UCLA, I didn't ask for enough help and I really struggled making the transition. But moving forward in my undergrad career, I learned that there are many people on campus, whether that be campus staff, professors, organizations, etc. that want to help and can provide support, and taking that support did not mean that I couldn't handle UCLA. Everyone needs support and guidance, and no one makes it far alone!

Role: 
L&S Mentors