In a heartfelt end-of-semester celebration – held both in person and online – Bronx Community College’s (BCC) Get PSyCh’d program honored the achievements and growth of its peer educators and mentors during the Fall 2025 semester. The atmosphere was filled with pride, connection, and gratitude as students reflected on their personal journeys and the support networks that helped them thrive.

Among those cheering on the students was BCC alumna Angelica Vega, Class of ‘21, now pursuing her doctorate and returning to the program as a mentor and Programming & Partnerships Coordinator. Once a Get PSyCh’d participant herself, Vega now guides current student Yentl Pinales, offering the same encouragement she once received. Vega joined Get PSyCh’d Director Dr. Emalinda McSpadden and Program Specialist Carmen Toribio Martinez—also a BCC alumna—in recognizing the students’ accomplishments and dedication.

For Pinales, 38, the celebration marked a turning point in a long and winding academic journey. After attending multiple colleges since 2007 and changing majors several times, she found her home at BCC in the Human Services program. More importantly, she found a community that helped her believe in her own success.

“Get PSyCh’d is an amazing program,” Pinales said, holding back tears. “The mentors regularly check in with each of us, just to see how we’re doing and connect us with resources as needed. I don’t know what I would have done without them.” Her path has not been easy—she has faced food insecurity and health challenges.

Pinales will graduate in May 2026 and plans to apply for a competitive scholarship at NYU to continue her studies.

Many Get PSyCh’d participants hope to pursue careers in mental health, and entry into the program is selective, requiring an interview process. Each student receives a paid on-campus internship and individualized guidance from peer mentors and program staff. As they build their professional skills, these students also serve the broader student body by sharing vital mental health information and connecting peers with BCC’s robust network of free services, including confidential counseling, an on-site health clinic with a nurse practitioner, a food pantry, and a childcare center for student parents.

Another student recognized at the symposium, Aduke Akewusola, described her own path as one shaped by courage and newfound confidence. Originally from Nigeria, Akewusola struggled for years to take the first step into college despite enrolling several times. Joining Get PSyCh’d changed everything. With the program’s support, she discovered a belief in herself that she hadn’t known before. She will graduate in May alongside Pinales and plans to pursue Social Work at Lehman College.

Addressing a student who attended the event remotely, Dr. McSpadden—Professor and Deputy Chair of the Department of Social Sciences—shared a message that echoed through the room:
“We’re so proud to have you among our ranks. You’re like a whole group of cheerleaders wrapped into one person. Keep doing what you’re doing because you’re going to do so much for so many people,” she said.

As the celebration concluded, one thing was clear: the students of Get PSyCh’d are not only preparing for meaningful careers in mental health – they are already demonstrating the compassion, leadership, and resilience that will define their futures. The community they have built with one another is as powerful as the futures they are forging.

They are, in every sense, headed for greatness – and lifting each other up along the way.

The Get PSyCh’D (Peer Support and Career Development) program is a grant-funded program that supports students during their time at BCC and continues to guide them as they pursue bachelor’s and graduate degrees.