Be the Person You Needed: Alumni Spotlight on Rubi Lorenzana Vazquez
Rubi Lorenzana Vazquez '22 - Counseling Psychology
High school doesn’t come without its emotional trials, and as a high school student, Rubi Lorenzana Vazquez (MA in Counseling Psychology, ‘22) was on the lookout for a safe space where she could discuss these issues. “Coming from a very traditional Mexican family, I didn’t have that space at home because mental health is not often discussed,” says Lorenzana Vazquez. Now, she’s working as a mental health therapist for that very same high school, determined to remove the stigma around mental health and be the person she needed when she was younger.
Santa Clara University School of Education & Counseling Psychology (ECP) alum Rubi Lorenzana Vazquez now works for The Foundation for Hispanic Education (TFHE) in San Jose – an organization committed to identifying, understanding, and addressing the Latino education achievement gap through innovation and collaboration. In addition to overseeing three high schools in East San Jose, TFHE funds and provides resources for regional initiatives that are tackling some of the most pressing educational issues facing underrepresented communities.
Rubi’s Journey
With dreams of becoming a social worker and a sociology undergraduate degree under her belt, Lorenzana Vazquez started working for TFHE as an attendance clerk after graduation. However, even then, CEO Sherry Segura saw her potential and cultivated new opportunities for Rubi. “From there, I moved departments within the foundation, and stepped into a role as a special education instructional assistant. It was in this position that I realized that youth mental health work was what I wanted to do,” says Lorenzana Vazquez.
Eyes set on a Counseling Psychology degree, Lorenzana Vazquez enrolled at SCU in 2019. In addition to her degree and certification, Lorenzana Vazquez pursued an emphasis in Latino Counseling. It was in pursuit of this emphasis that Lorenzana Vazquez met a faculty member that played a crucial role in her completion of the program.
“As an ECP student, I was still working full-time for TFHE in my special education role, and managing school and work was challenging. I met Professor Lucila Ramos Sanchez during my first year, and as both my professor and advisor, confided in her about my thoughts on dropping the program. Professor Ramos Sanchez not only motivated me to keep going, but also taught me terminology that I use today when communicating with Latino families,” says Lorenzana Vazquez.
Providing a Safe Space for Students
Upon graduating from SCU in 2022, Lorenzana Vazquez stepped into her role as a student mental health therapist at Latino College Preparatory Academy – one of TFHE’s three school sites and the high school Lorenzana Vazquez previously attended. While her primary responsibility is to provide a safe space for students and support those dealing with anxiety and/or depression, Lorenzana Vazquez says her work with parents is just as important.
“Whenever I get a student, I speak to their parents as well. Most parents are the ones putting referrals in for their students, but there are also some who say their students don’t need therapy, and I break down for them why therapy could be helpful. I’m hoping that through these moments, I’m able to slowly break down the mental health stigma carried by older generations.”
When reflecting on how she wants to leave an impact on her field, Lorenzana Vazquez says she hopes her students look back at high school knowing they had a safe space where they could talk about any issue. Some of her most memorable moments have been when students have returned to thank her for truly seeing them, listening, and helping them through their lowest moments.
“For me, the most rewarding moments are when students come in with whatever problem is plaguing them and leave my office laughing or making a joke. It lets me know that they just needed a space to talk it out, and I’m so happy I’m able to be that person for them.”