Hobbies and interests
Dance
Public Health
Public Speaking
Advocacy And Activism
Destiny Islas
495
Bold Points1x
Finalist1x
WinnerDestiny Islas
495
Bold Points1x
Finalist1x
WinnerBio
My passion to become a community leader only grows as the years go by during my time as a diabetes advocate. All of these skills I have obtained help me better understand the fundamentals of non-profit management and operations, public policy approaches and the essence of public health. My end goal is to create a nonprofit that helps low income families thrive in school and have access to accessible health resources. This dream ignites my passion to keep pursuing this path because I know I am a strong leader that will help bring healing to many communities. My passion is and accomplishments of my work leave a legacy that will last a lifetime. I have gotten sharps containers to be inserted into my campus, represent the study body in the student wellness community, brought more awareness and resources to the diabetes community for students, created the first diabetes chapter on campus and was awarded the 2022-2023 outstanding officer of the year because of my dedication to the diabetes mission and leadership at CSULB.
Being a leader is not just learning how to put together an organization and team, it is being the light in the lives of the community you serve. To bring healing in ways that keep you going as you pursue your dreams of making great changes to the world. There is power within a single individual, a power that can influence and guide a community and perhaps even the world as we know it. My knowledge and heart have been forever changed to keep going and be the best community leader I can be for the communities I will be serving when the time comes.
Education
California State University-Long Beach
Master's degree programMajors:
- Public Administration
Minors:
- Public Health
California State University-Long Beach
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- Education, General
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Cerritos College
Associate's degree programMajors:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
- Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
- Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
- Education, General
Bellflower High
High SchoolMiscellaneous
Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Graduate schools of interest:
Transfer schools of interest:
Majors of interest:
- Public Administration
- Public Health
Career
Dream career field:
Public Policy
Dream career goals:
Non-profit creator to help low income schools and communities with more educational and health resources
Success Coach
Cerritos College2021 – Present3 years
Arts
Cerritos College
Dance2016 – 2019
Public services
Public Service (Politics)
Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition — Advocate2023 – PresentAdvocacy
Diabetes Link at CSULB — President2022 – PresentVolunteering
Olive Crest — Advocate/Volunteer2018 – PresentAdvocacy
Diabetes Link — Advocate2021 – Present
Future Interests
Advocacy
Politics
Volunteering
Philanthropy
Entrepreneurship
Dylan's Journey Memorial Scholarship
I'm Destiny, a first generation college student and first one to attend college on both sides of my family. As a Latina living with multiple disabilities, I have faced many challenges during my undergrad and graduate experience. I have ADHD, depression and anxiety. I receive accommodations with BMAC/Disability Center for my diabetes and learning disorders of ADHD and anxiety. I get accommodations to have longer test times due to my ability to focus, brain fog and difficulty reading. I’m also a type 1 diabetic, which makes living with cognitive disabilities harder, as my diabetes management can correlate with my anxiety/ADHD. My accommodations allow the professor to know I can step out of class to receive care if I need to correct my hypoglycemia, or if I get ill due to my diabetes. I’m still learning to manage my sugars well, because it can interfere with my vision and cognitive functions on top of my existing ADHD and anxiety.
Despite the adversities with managing my disabilities I use it to empower both my spirit and career both in my undergrad and masters program because I want to inspire others it is possible. The more challenges and obstacles that come my way, will allow me to learn more as I journey my path. When I continue to learn more about my challenges, it allows me to understand the struggles other may also face. These qualities will help me better understand and help the communities I will be serving as a public service worker.
The most successful program I have completed related to diabetes is adding sharp containers to the USU facilities restrooms here at CSULB. This is a major step forward because diabetes awareness was not too present here in my university. I worked closely with student health services and hosted a diabetes awareness and informative workshop. Along the way I was able to get a diabetes internship summer 2021, which would lead me to create the first chapter for diabetes here at CSULB. Students have come up to me and thanked me for bringing awareness to this because it shows support for the diabetic community and their loved ones affected by it. I measured it as a great success because this will now be a legacy and tradition continued at CSULB. I also inspired for the student health services to insert sharp containers in their restrooms despite some of the higher authorities telling me they won't insert them due to, students not needing them, I was so proud to move forward with this project due to the fact I used to be scared in telling people I'm a diabetic, and struggled to get to this point due to my cognitive disabilities; however I use my disabilities to empower me and even inspire others that anything is possible. All USU restrooms now have sharp containers, and the majority of them are being filled.
Due to my advocacy for change, I now made my mark in a small yet significant way. I would be a strong candidate for this scholarship because I did not and will not let my disabilities define me, and continue to make a difference not just in the present day moment; but for the future, because I know I will bring healing to the diverse communities that need my help. I will keep going to school and continue breaking barriers despite having disabilities.