OID Event: “Being Here Now” with Nabel Villafaña

This week I went to the OID event, “Being Here Now: Identity Intersections with Nabel Villafaña”.

About Nabel Villafaña

Nabel Villafaña is the Assistant Registrar at Harvey Mudd College. During today’s event she shared her experience as a First Generation Latina college student and the ways that she practices mindfulness to manage her anxiety.

Summary of Today’s Event

Like many Mudders, Nabel Villafaña’s educational ambitions began at a young age. She was expected to go to college, graduate, and get a successful job. Unfortunately, life sometimes presents problems that put people in difficult situations. Nabel shared that she has been a long time sufferer of anxiety where sometimes it would not allow her to function on a regular basis. Throughout her education and career, Nabel needed to learn different methods to manage her anxiety in order for her to reach her goals. Today she shared her main tool: practicing mindfulness. Practicing mindfulness means that you focus on what is happening right now in the present. Nabel shared how she practices mindfulness through techniques like meditation and gratitude lists.

Personally, I related to Nabel’s story and it was inspiring to see someone overcome the obstacles of life as a First Generation Latina college student with anxiety. This event was important because everyone here at Harvey Mudd College is going to experience stress at some point in their lives, and we should all be prepared with tools to manage this stress so that we can succeed in our goals.

Future Events

Please join us next week for more OID events:

Monday, November 13

12:15–1:15 p.m.
“Your Assets, Your Talent: First Gen/ Low-Income Strengths”
Hoch-Shanahan, Aviation Room

Tuesday, November 14

12:15–1:15 p.m.
“U.S. Politics and Current Events From an International Lens”
Platt Green Room

Thursday November 16

12:15–1:15 p.m.
“Study Abroad: How to Make it Affordable”
OID Center

Written by Nicole Garcia ’21