Promoting Latinx Student Success Through Counseling

Meet Dr. Marcy Ramirez the new Latinx counselor at Counseling and Consultation Services at Ohio State. Marcy shares her path into counseling as well as how her role helps support Latinx students on campus.

By Jessica Rivera

QP Jessica: Can you tell me a little about yourself and how you got into counseling?

Marcy: I am a first-generation Mexican American born and raised in California. I come from a big traditional Mexican family that is connected to our roots and culture. I had fun growing up with five siblings, and always knew they would be my friends for the rest of my life. However, some of my peers didn’t share my same experience. They didn’t have someone who listened and gave them advice as they struggled through tough moments. When deciding on a career, I picked something that would help out my community. In my role I provide Latinx students with support to make their journey through higher education a little easier.

QP Jessica: How does your identity as a Latina shape your role as a counselor?

Marcy: My identity as a Latina shapes my role as a psychologist in different ways, primarily because it allows me to bridge two cultures and languages near and dear to my heart. One way that my identity as a Latina has shaped my work is on the importance I place on the use of language and dichos (sayings). I believe that there is depth in treatment when one can freely speak their native language without fear of judgment or lack of understanding. There is beauty in expressing oneself with dichos passed on by generations that, when translated, lose their meaning but can also bring people together.

QP Jessica: What are some of the issues Latinx college students at OSU have been facing, given the COVID-19 pandemic?

Marcy: Being from a collectivistic culture, family plays a big part in Latinx students’ lives. Since the start of COVID-19, the separation from home has increased anxiety about being far away from family if they get sick. Recently that anxiety has extended to stress related to family back home in their native country. Given that most first-generation Latinx students have family members with limited knowledge of technology, it has become harder to connect with family. Another concern is feeling disconnected from their cultures, since celebrating Hispanic/Latinx holidays happened naturally back home. Now students have to intentionally seek out other Latinx students to celebrate those special moments, something that is not always possible.

QP Jessica: Prior to the pandemic, what were some of the issues Latinx students at OSU were navigating?

Marcy: Some of the concerns that are present now hold true before the pandemic. Navigating college or graduate school is challenging enough when you are a first-generation student or are far from home. One of the main concerns that students navigate is feeling alienated from peers who don’t look like them. The fear of reaching out and creating a new social support group that might look different from the norm can be scary. Also, the fear of letting the family down by not succeeding puts pressure on students. It’s also difficult to explain the demands and school stressors to families who don’t have higher education, further making them feel alone.

QP Jessica: Can you talk a little bit about how you have collaborated with the multicultural center as well as the HEART group?

Marcy: I collaborate with the multicultural center by participating in La CASA (Latinx Community Advocacy in Solidarity for Awareness) cohort meetings. The purpose of La CASA is to create a community among multi-generations of Latinx students by offering a safe place for them to express concerns about college, among other things. Attending the meetings allows me to connect to the Latinx students on campus. This also helps bridge mental health and the Latinx community to decrease the negative stereotypes that therapy has among our community. I also provide Latinx graduate students a space to connect through group therapy and support one another to attain higher education. The group is done in both languages and is open to Latinx graduate students from multi-generations. The purpose of both groups is to create unity and make it feasible for others to seek help when needed.