Syreeta Nolan

Psychology Major with a Specialization in Human Health

Syreeta, who has fibromyalgia and has struggled with mental health at different times in her life, took a 10-year break from school before resuming her education.  Today, Syreeta is a passionate advocate for students with disabilities and other underrepresented students -- as a program developer for Housing Dining Hospitality at UC San Diego, an Underrepresented Students Officer for the UC system and co-president of the UC Disability Ad Hoc Subcommittee. She also leads two research teams seeking to advance both prevention and effective interventions in children's and adults' mental health. And she runs a small financial business that promotes understanding of how money works for lower- and middle-class families.

Why UC San Diego
Syreeta first became interested in attending UC San Diego after being a patient at the UC San Diego Medical Center. She observed the tight-knit relationships the doctors had with their students and wanted to receive the same hands-on and experiential education herself. As a patient, she said she always felt safe and taken care of and wanted to further immerse herself in such a supportive environment. Now, she helps to foster that environment. She wants to make sure that “UC San Diego is a place where you can thrive, not just survive.”

Why Psychology
She chose to major in Psychology and specialize in Human Health because she wants to build a strong basic understanding of the mental health field before seeking to transform it. She wants make sure that people are psychologically supported throughout their entire lives, beginning in childhood -- and she wants to ensure that people with people with disabilities and underlying health conditions automatically receive psychological support as well, since mental health can take a toll when one is chronically or intermittently ill. 

Plans after graduation 
Syreeta plans to apply to graduate school for health policy. More broadly and aspirationally speaking, she plans to improve primary prevention in the U.S. in mental and cognitive health, as well as promote positive coping after diagnosis with any disability through early mental health intervention. Syreeta wants to create a safer and healthier system where all our emotions are treated as normal and celebrated as part of our identities.