Andres Mondragon is a actuarial science major at the Fox School of Business and one of the Temple's inaugural recipients of the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship is determined to use his education to help his society become a better and inclusive place. 

I decided to study in the U.S because...

It has been a dream of mine to do the same since I was 8 years old. One of my best friends is enrolling at Temple, too, which is very important. Leaving home, I expect, will be a difficult experience. Having someone with whom I am familiar will help. Also, when it comes to political differences, this is a place for diversity. I believe in that. 

I want to use my education...

To change so many things about my country. I had originally thought of developing a project related to microloans and their impacts on financial wellbeing for women in emerging economies like those of my home country, Peru. However, after my experience as an international student during my first semester at Temple, I decided to change the scope of my project to mental health. I wanted to use my voice and privilege to raise awareness of this relevant topic and perhaps clear some misconceptions surrounding mental health, especially in the international student community. 

The #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship...

Helps me focus on my education, rather than juggling academic commitments with an on-campus job. #YouAreWelcomeHere shows Temple cares about its international students. On 2020's #YouAreWelcomeHere Week I had the opportunity to bring my project to life with the help of two members of the International Affairs staff, Sarah Froberg and Kristina Bolton. We worked on a two-part event. One of the sessions was focused on the art of tai chi, and the second session was a Wellness Event, in which I was able to share my own experiences regarding mental health challenges. I believe both sessions effectively covered resources, coping mechanisms, and general information on how to deal with mental health challenges. 

I was compelled to pursue this project... 

Because of my personal journey. Though this project does not directly relate to my career goals in economics, I want to help other international students know that they are not alone, and that Temple has the resources to help out. On a larger scale, I have initial ideas to make a more significant impact in Peru by developing an app to connect mental health professionals to people when needed.