Dia James
My name is Dia James, and I am a dedicated student and parent at Los Angeles Pierce College with a deep-seated passion for psychology. My brother’s battle with schizophrenia served as the inspiration for my deeply personal journey into this field. This experience has not only shaped my academic pursuits but has also instilled in me a profound sense of empathy and determination.
The most significant challenge I have faced is being a single parent to a son with autism. It has made overcoming educational challenges as a single parent difficult. Being a single mom to a special needs son made the circumstances more complicated, emphasizing the need for stability for my son and my academic success.
Despite the hurdles life has thrown my way, I have excelled academically, earning recognition through presidential honors and the dean’s list of accolades. My ambition is to further my psychology studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, with the aim of obtaining a Doctor of Medicine degree in the field. Leadership roles such as the presidency of the Alpha Gamma Sigma Honors Society, mentoring within the EMBARC (Educational Modules to Broaden Academic Research Cultures) undergraduate research program at CSUN Project, and spearheading the SPARC (Student Parents Are Reimaging CalWorks) initiative have enriched my college experience, enhancing my leadership skills and my commitment to creating positive change. Through my experiences, I have learned the power of sharing one’s story and the importance of support networks. My goal is to leverage my own story and academic background to connect with and assist others who are navigating similar challenges, striving for sustainable solutions that can make a real difference in people’s lives.