Galya Walt - Tufts University

While this year has been nothing but unexpected, there have been many changes in my life that I am so grateful for. This past spring I finished up senior year and completed my thesis on involuntary commitment for people using substances in Massachusetts. I am so grateful for my time on Tufts campus, and I was able to commemorate my time there with friends and family over Zoom celebrations. Since graduation, I have been working at Boston Medical Center on a study that is using community engagement to reduce opioid overdose deaths in Massachusetts. I love my work, and I am learning so much about working with communities, qualitative research, interviewing and the widespread need for respectful substance use care. I am deeply grateful for fulfilling remote work during this time. Looking ahead, I am hoping to return to school after two years at Boston Medical Center to get a Masters in Social Work and a Masters in Public Health. I believe my interest in focusing on mental health care from a public health perspective will be fully engaged by these programs, and I am excited to see where that goes! In the meantime, I am learning and listening to mentors at my work who have taught me so much about public health and community engaged work in just the past six months. Thank you so much to MVYouth who gave me such a meaningful four years at Tufts. I am so grateful for your support. I can feel the skills and friendships Tufts gave me continuing to support me during this challenging year. I am filled with gratitude for that experience.