Aeriell
“I am who I am today because of the women who came before me.”
Aeriell is a leader, an academic, a content creator and a passionate dreamer. Using a variety of online platforms, she has established her own online community called Grad Life Grind which aims to empower current and future graduate students. Here she offers practical tips and tricks for applying to and surviving grad school, while emphasizing the importance of looking after yourself and prioritising your mental health. Aeriell is determined to live to her full potential while helping others to do the same. This is her story.
P: Please introduce yourself
A: I'm Aeriell. I'm a first-generation Latina-American pursuing my PhD in Clinical Psychology. I'm also the founder of Grad Life Grind, a digital platform that aims to empower current and future graduate students. You can find my content on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Tik Tok, and GradLifeGrind.com!
P: Describe or define yourself in your own words
A: I'm a daughter, a sister, a friend, a Latina, a woman, and a human all before I am an academic. Who I am is comprised of so much: a dancer, a dog lover, a Virgo, a Christian. My personality is a mix of witty, kind, empathic, and a little savage. I love to talk and I love to learn. But most importantly, I am who I am today because of the women who came before me (mainly, my mother and grandmother).
P: What is your favorite thing about yourself?
A: My favorite thing about myself is that I have humungous dreams, and I don't let anyone tell me that they can't or won't come true.
P: What is one piece of advice you'd give your younger self?
A: Your feelings make you strong, not weak. The word "emotional" has such a negative connotation and that is a direct result of the patriarchy; it's not an inherent flaw in you. Everyone has emotions. Learning to feel, understand, and regulate your emotions is one of the most loving things you can do for yourself. Learning to listen, hold space for, and empathize with the emotions of others is the most loving thing you can do for the world.
P: What does being a woman mean to you?
A: Being a woman, for me, has nothing to do with the traditional ideas of masculinity or femininity. Being a woman means being the most me I can be, which means speaking, dressing, loving, and living as I desire, despite coming up against systems of oppression.
P: Who is one woman that inspires you? What would you say to her if she were here now?
My mom! We live far away from each other right now, but I want her to know that I am inspired by her and amazed by her strength every day as I grow into the woman I want to become.