Nearly every college student in 2021 knows just how difficult it can be to balance the stressors of school in the midst of an ongoing pandemic. At the University of Colorado Boulder, peer wellness coaches like Nadyah Spahn continue to assist students in maintaining a healthy mental state through unprecedented events and challenges.

Outside of her coaching work, she is a member of the President’s Leadership Class and the Miramontes Arts and Sciences program. She is graduating this spring with a major in international affairs and a minor in leadership studies. 

As an international affairs student, Spahn says her ultimate goal is to be a clinical psychologist. Inspired by the story of her refugee mother, she is driven to help marginalized communities.

“My family’s story—of coming to the U.S. with nothing, escaping a dictator in Uganda and trying to make it here as new Americans—impacts everything I do,” says Spahn. “I want to work with refugees. And, because of my mom’s story, I also want to work with women.”

In particular, she sees an absence of mental health resources for many minority groups. As a Muslim woman, Spahn feels connected to underrepresented communities, making her mission of advocating and promoting mental health discourse and resources a personal one. 

“I know what it’s like to be the only person representing ‘my group’ in a setting,” she says. “I’m very aware of the stigma surrounding mental health in a lot of cultures. I try to keep that in mind when I coach so that I don’t suggest things people would never do, but instead get them the services they need to get better.”

In her role as a peer wellness coach and peer educator, Spahn has dedicated much of her undergraduate experience to helping students make meaningful changes in their lives. Each week, Spahn hosts educational events with CU’s Health Promotion, which advocates for education and conversation around mental health and encourages a healthier lifestyle.

“At Health Promotion, we offer events every day of the week, both virtual and in-person,” says Spahn. “For example, on Mondays we have ‘Mindful Mondays,’ where we explore mindfulness. I also run ‘Health Hut,’ which is more educational. ‘Wellness Wednesdays’ are a great place for students to relax, and ‘Fri-YAY’ is a sober alternative to Friday nights, which is more about having fun.”

Moving forward, Spahn aims to continue advocating for underrepresented people and being a leader in her community. After graduation, she intends to pursue a doctorate in clinical psychology—another step in her mission to help, to educate and to empower others.