38 The QUEE NS Courier • march 12, 2015 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Richmond Hill star student graduating college at 19 THE COURIER/Photo by Salvatore Licata Trivendra Persaud BY SALVATORE LICATA [email protected]/@Sal_Licata1 While most 19-year-olds are looking forward to finishing up their second year of college, Trivendra Persaud is gearing up for graduate school. Persaud, who lives in Richmond Hill, has been a selfmotivated student ever since he emigrated from Guyana to America at the age of 4 with his parents, his brother and his sister. He went to P.S. 54 in Richmond Hill until sixth grade, which is when he pursued an education in the York Early College Academy. In the 10th grade, he enrolled in his first college credit classes, and by the time he was a senior, he had already earned 58 credits toward his higher education. “I know that hard work pays off,” Persaud said. “I always have a major focus on school work but you always have to keep that balance and have some fun.” But it is not so easy for him to keep that balance. Along with going to school up to six days a week and through the summer and winter semesters, Persaud works three days a week at a law office and volunteers his time at Jamaica Hospital two other days. He said organization is his key to getting everything done, but that along his path toward success he had to cut some ties with friends and naysayers who were holding him back. “I had to cut a lot of friends because they were pulling me down,” he said. “You know, they tell you to stop taking so many credits, to go hang out more instead of studying, but I knew I couldn’t do that. It was work now, party later for me.” Because of his determination, Persaud is set to graduate with his bachelor’s degree in psychology in the spring. He is then looking to go back to school for his master’s and become a practicing occupational therapist. He one day wants to open up his own practice and said he has always had the urge to help people, especially when they cannot help themselves. “I always think to myself, what if I was in that position?” he said. “I want to help people. I do it because I feel it should be done.” Jamaica Hospital Hosts Art Exhibit and Reception in Celebration of Creative Arts Therapy Week March 10, 2015 (Jamaica, NY) — Jamaica Hospital Medical Center will be raising awareness on the importance of utilizing art in the treatment of mental illnesses and celebrating National Creative Arts Therapy Week by displaying the anonymous works of patients. The reception takes place on March 16th 2015 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and the exhibit will continue to show through March 20th. The hospital will transform the lobby in its A-B building into a gallery-style display which will chronicle each patient’s journey during treatment. Fifty to seventy five pieces of art will be showcased and each will tell a story of realization, discovery, acceptance or a moment of breakthrough. The exhibit includes portraits, sketches, illustrations and mandalas. Mandalas are circular designs that are symbolic of an individual’s path through life or a reflection of their state of mind. Art has been used as a medium for selfexpression and in the treatment for mental illness for many years. World-renowned artists such as Vincent Van Gogh were known to struggle with mental illness and have famously used art to communicate their experiences. Patients often begin therapy feeling unhappy, conflicted or isolated but by creating art they are able to share their feelings, engage with therapists and begin the process of recovery. Creative arts therapy encourages self- exploration, helps organize emotions and has a profoundly positive effect on mental wellbeing. It is for these reasons and others that this form of therapy has been an integral part of the Department of Psychiatry at Jamaica Hospital for nearly 20 years. “It is important to raise awareness on how helpful art therapy is in treating mental illness. For some patients, it gives them purpose for others it can be life-changing,” stated Michelle Hololob LCAT at Jamaica Hospital. “There is still a stigma attached to mental illness, we are using art as a platform to disseminate that stigma,” added colleague Heather Grey LCAT. ADVERTORIAL
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