Carolina Lebron Santiago is a Puerto Rican American student who uses her biculturalism to advocate, empower, and challenge injustices that suppress Limited English Speakers (LES) within the health care system. During her bachelor’s in social work (BSW) internship placement, Carolina noticed a linguistic and cultural gap between the services rendered and her clients, which prompted her desire to step in and help. She did so by translating safety plans, discharge plans, admissions paperwork, group therapy tools, workbooks, activities, and other essential pieces of the services provided to LES. Luckily, the work that she did during her placement will transcend her time there and benefit clients for years to come.
Growing up, Carolina struggled between her dual identity of being both Hispanic and American. Carolina shares, “It always felt like I was never ‘white’ enough to fit in with my white friends, but then with my Latino friends and even sometimes my family, I was never Puerto Rican enough.” This experience, however, nurtured empathy that she is now able to use with her clients who, like her, may be experiencing the difficulties of navigating a dual-culture identity.
Amid her journey towards confidence and comfortability in her multicultural-identity, Carolina also wrestled with some difficulties with her mental health. Although hesitant at first, Carolina shared “I did not think that the counseling was going to help me, but it ended up being a really healing experience. Not only just for me, but for my family as well.”
Carolina understood firsthand that it is hard to ask for help, especially when culture or stigma discourage seeking professional help, but the narrative shifted when she experienced the help of a social worker, which ignited her desire to be that person for others.
“I feel like the education at Illinois State University really helped me learn how to think creatively, how to look outside of the box, how to approach diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how to go about having talks regarding advocacy within an agency and with clients.”
Carolina Lebron-Santiago, BSW Graduate
In reflection of her time pursuing a bachelor’s in social work, Carolina shares, “I feel like the education at Illinois State University really helped me learn how to think creatively, how to look outside of the box, how to approach diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how to go about having talks regarding advocacy within an agency and with clients.”
Upon graduation, Carolina will continue her journey as a social worker at Children’s Healthcare Organization of Northern California. Her role at the agency will be as a case manager/resource liaison for families with medically fragile children who are bed or wheelchair-bound by their medical conditions. Whether in Illinois or California, we are sure that Carolina will continue to do great work!
