Student Profiles: Brandon Guzman
Major: Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling
Are you a first-generation college student?
Yes, I am a first-generation college student and graduate.
Why did you pick UTEP?
UTEP was an easy choice for me. I believe in my city and the potential we have right here in front of us. You can easily see the investments that have been made on campus and the progress that is going on every day behind the scenes to make UTEP one of the top universities in the world. I eventually want to become a leader helping to continue making meaningful change and impact in our city.
What sparked your interest in rehabilitation counseling?
What sparked my interest in this field is the rehabilitation process as a whole – how we as humans can adapt and overcome adversity. I truly believe that despite any setbacks, whether it’s a mental or physical disability, with the right individuals and supports in place, we can always advance together. If we can learn how to become resilient and minimize the duration of the setback, then it’s not really a setback.
I want to be able to provide support for our community, whether it’s helping to remove the stigma associated with mental illness or providing support for individuals with physical disabilities, and helping our community advance. It’s the right thing to do.
Tell us about a service-learning or research experience you’ve had at UTEP.
I am currently doing my practicum for the MRC program at NAMI of El Paso. This experience has helped, and will continue to help, me develop as a student and as a professional. During my short time at NAMI of El Paso, I’ve gained a passion to continue learning how to help provide the support for our community and remove the stigma associated with mental illness.
What are your career aspirations?
My career aspirations are to learn as much as I can here in the MRC program, graduate, earn my LPC (licensed professional counselor certification), and eventually work my way into the Department of Veterans Affairs, providing support to veterans and families in our community.
Where are you currently working?
I’m currently the community impact associate at the United Way of El Paso County. I’ve been with them for a little over a year and a half. In this role, I get to work with some great individuals who care about El Paso and want to make it a better place for us all. Through our work, one of our objectives is to provide support to our community impact programs that align with our core values. These programs provide basic needs such as food, shelter, and support for families to leave domestic violence situations; educational support such as mentoring, childhood success, and literacy initiatives for students; and financial support to help our families make the best choices possible with their income.
How do you handle the stress of work and school?
I couldn’t do this without the support of my family, girlfriend, colleagues at the United Way, and last, but certainly not least, the support from UTEP and the MRC program faculty and students. I know it may sound cliché, but for me, it’s the little things that matter in life and without those little things I could be in a worse situation. I would also say that the leadership traits and core values I learned from the Marine Corps, and still keep with me, have helped me handle the stress and provide the motivation to keep pushing. No one is going to care more about your own career than yourself.
What advice would you give to a student thinking about studying rehabilitation counseling?
I would say look into the program and give it a serious consideration. This profession has solid potential for growth. You will meet some amazing faculty and students, and the career possibilities are growing. The opportunities to make a solid impact are there for sure.
