Article written by: Baileigh Hannah
Meet Cristian Pulgarin, a third-year graduate student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). He is currently part of the ROTC program as well. Originally from the Rogers Park neighborhood on Chicago’s North Side, Cristian is pursuing his second master’s degree at UIUC. He earned his Master of Public Health (MPH) in May 2024 and is currently working towards a Master of Social Work (MSW) with a concentration in Mental Health.
I asked Christian what his military background is, and why he decided to pursue higher education, and he said:
“Since joining the military, I’ve noticed that mental health remains somewhat stigmatized, despite ongoing efforts to support service members. To help improve mental health care within the military, I decided to pursue a path toward becoming an officer through ROTC and obtaining my MSW to serve as a mental health specialist or therapist. Officers play a more active role in implementing change within the service, which is why I chose to transition from my enlisted status to becoming an officer.”
I then asked him, What was the most challenging part of transitioning from military life to student life? He responded,
“The biggest challenge for me has been managing my time, especially balancing my academic commitments with drill weekends and annual training. These commitments sometimes overlap with school, needing me to plan ahead to make sure I complete all my assignments on time, especially when drill dates change at the last minute.”
Lastly, I asked, What are your career aspirations after graduation? And he said,
“After graduation, I plan to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology. My goal is to use my background in Public Health and Social Work to become a well-rounded Clinical Psychologist, expanding my ability to support mental health care within the military and in the civilian side.”
Cristian’s journey is a testament to resilience and dedication to improving mental health care. From his military service to his academic pursuits at UIUC, he is paving a path of meaningful changes in both the military and civilian sectors. As he continues to balance his studies and service, his future as a Clinical Psychologist looks bright, and his passion for mental health advocacy will have a lasting impact on those he serves!