From participant to practitioner: youth shaping the future
Starting with uncertainty
Cathy Quach first connected with CYC as a high school sophomore through the STAMP program. At the time, she was navigating anxiety and a period of isolation.
“I didn’t have many spaces where I could talk about what I was going through,” she said.
That began to change as she spent more time in the program. What stood out was not a single activity, but the consistency of the space itself—one where conversations could unfold gradually.
“It was the first time I understood what community could look like,” Cathy said. “I realized I wasn’t the only one going through something like this.”
Learning through example
One early experience shaped how she approached those conversations. During a group activity, her mentor chose to speak first, sharing his own experiences openly.
“He was honest in a way I hadn’t seen before,” Cathy said. “It made it feel possible to say something myself.”
That moment shifted how she understood vulnerability. It became less about exposure and more about connection.
As she began to open up, new questions followed, especially around how mental health is understood across different contexts.
“When I tried to talk to my parents about anxiety, it didn’t always land,” she said. “It made me start thinking about how culture shapes those conversations.”
Applying what she learned
Today, Cathy is pursuing a doctoral degree while working as a clinician at Life Learning Academy, a continuation high school that supports students who have not found success in traditional settings.
Many of the students she works with are engaging with mental health services for the first time. Cathy approaches this work with an awareness of how important it is to establish trust early.
“I want them to feel like they have a say in what happens here,” she said. “That this space belongs to them.”
Her own experience informs that approach. Recognizing familiar barriers—uncertainty, hesitation, or mistrust—helps her meet students where they are.
“It changes things when someone feels understood,” she said. “It can make it easier to keep coming back.”
Change over time
Progress in this work is often gradual. Cathy described one student who initially struggled to engage and often shut down during sessions. Over time, that shifted.
“She’s starting to ask for help and think differently about what comes next,” Cathy said. “That kind of change doesn’t happen all at once.”
These moments reflect the same principle that shaped Cathy’s early experience: growth happens when space and consistency are present.
Continuing the work
This year, Cathy was recognized as the recipient of CYC’s Inspirational Alumnus Award at the 56th Annual Gala. The award is presented to a former CYC participant who is actively building a path across academics, career, and community life. Her journey reflects how early experiences of support can carry forward into the way she shows up for others today.
For current CYC participants considering similar paths, her advice is direct. “If you’re curious, try it,” she said. “It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it.”
Investing in what lasts
Cathy’s story points to something steady rather than exceptional. When young people have access to spaces where they feel supported and heard, it shapes how they move through school, work, and community over time.
As CYC continues its Give in May campaign, support helps sustain programs that provide that kind of environment for the next generation.
Learn more about CYC programs and ways to support youth mental health.