Priya Baldeo

Priya Baldeo is a Youth Studies student here at CUNY SPS. Her academic journey has been anything but smooth sailing; she struggled to graduate high school and needed eight years to complete her undergraduate education. Priya battled with depression and anxiety and isolated myself most of the time. Becoming a youth worker is what gave her a sense of community and belonging. Seeing that she could positively impact the lives of the young people she crossed paths with, even in the smallest way, continues to be her motivation today. Along the way, she met individuals who became her mentors, guiding her on the path to finishing school and following her heart. She now works for South Asian Youth Action as an after-school Youth Mentor, serving a middle school population. 

In December of 2019, she earned her BA in Psychology at Queens College. She also volunteers with City Tutors where she tutors high school students taking college level psychology courses. In addition to that, she volunteers teaching ESL to adult learners at the Center for Integration and Advancement of New Americans. Priya is also actively involved in a participatory youth action fellowship here at CUNY SPS. Being able to create her own path using what she is passionate about has been so empowering, and it is her aspiration to help young people create their own paths, too.