Hello, my name is Jorge Alvarez and I am a third-year student at Rutgers University pursuing a major in Public Health and minor in Biological Sciences on the Pre-medical track. Interestingly enough, of all the pre-med courses I have taken, my favorite has been Organic Chemistry. My first year at Rutgers was by far the most difficult year of my life. Since then, I have learned to cope and manage with the impact which my experience had on me. During my journey of healing (which I must say is a life-long one), I discovered the value and importance in people using their voice. I have personally found inspiration and felt empowered from hearing others stories. I chose to be an Ignite Speaker because I feel as though my story can have an equivalent impact on others and I want those who have been in the same shoes as me to know that they are not alone in their experiences.