Hi! My name is Siya and I’m a junior Neuroscience and Psychology double major. I am passionate about mental-health awareness. I am running for Board Member because I want to continue my initiatives on mental health awareness and accessibility while applying and challenging myself through the added responsibility of allocations and funding.
Some of the things I love most in this world include my dog, jazz and piano, meeting new people, reading, good food, rock climbing, and art. If I wasn’t a STEM major, I would probably major in jazz or something else in the Arts, and I could (if prompted, will) talk about this stuff for hours. Currently, alongside being SGB’s Wellness Committee Chair, I work in the YETI Lab, volunteer for the Crisis Text Line, and I play the keys in Small Jazz Ensemble.
Before I continue, I would like to warn you that my bio may be lengthy (A+ in Yapology). If you make it to the end, in advance, thank you—not just for reading what I have to say, but for your engagement in this year’s Student Government Board election and for being an integral part of the democratic process. Your interest and participation in this election truly makes a difference.
Before this year, I was like most students in that I didn’t really know anything about SGB. I thought it was just another “thing” that people did on campus, and that it had nothing to do with me.
I was wrong.
Every issue I had with Pitt— whether it was about campus dining options, or access to menstrual products, or encouraging voting participation, making campus-based transportation more reliable— unbeknownst to me, was already being advocated for by these incredible students on SGB. These students weren’t just talking about these issues; they were holding meetings with faculty members, striving to make this campus better for everyone. I was being heard, and I didn’t even know it back then.
Now, at the risk of being redundant, I must emphasize: The people who are currently members of Student Government Board are likely some of the most driven, passionate, and inspiring people I know. They have shown me how to utilize my experiences and education to truly make a difference on campus. It’s one thing to “say” I’m passionate about mental health awareness, but it’s another thing to make tangible change, something that I don’t think I knew how to fully do beyond the context of health care. However, through these people, I’ve learned how to “be” passionate about mental health awareness— providing mental health resources, planning events for Mental Health Awareness Month, pushing for accessibility provisions in dining, academics. With the cold weather that we experienced early this semester, we noticed issues in classes not providing students with virtual options, which greatly limited attendance and accessibility. I a working to change that.
After undergrad, I intend on going to graduate school. For a really long time, I thought I would go to school for psychology, maybe get my PhD and become a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist. However, my time in SGB has been wonderful and has drastically altered my career aspirations. Through exposure to this dynamic world of governance and advocacy work, I’ve found love in the people I’ve met and the work I’ve done through the Wellness Committee.
This role is more than just an opportunity to continue the work I’ve started; it’s a chance for me to push myself further, challenge my ideas, and grow in the career I now see myself building—one focused on governance, advocacy, and empowering others. Through this position, I will learn how to balance resources, advocate for equity, and create lasting change, all while ensuring that funding is managed efficiently and in alignment with student priorities.
Your vote matters. Every candidate in this race is an incredible leader who will serve the Board well, but by voting for me, you are choosing a representative who will ensure that your voices are heard and advocated for—whether you realize it or not—just as I have done as Wellness Chair. Furthermore, your vote grants me the opportunity to grow and challenge myself in ways that will shape my career in advocacy and governance.
You have now reached the end of my biography. While I still have your attention, I would like to shout out the Elections committee, who have put nothing but elbow grease and blood into making this election possible and giving all these wonderful candidates a platform to connect with other students and tell their stories.
Again, thank you for participating in this year’s SGB election and allowing the pathways of our lives to intersect within this brief moment of 800 words. I wish you all a wonderful semester, and I hope our lives intersect once again!
Best,
Siya