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Stories from the Heart: St. John’s University student and Paralympic Gold Medalist team up to help those battling mental health issues
Alex Torres has a simple message he wants every person to understand.
“It’s all about making sure you establish a community of people that realizes, we’re not alone in this process,” he said.
The process fighting depression and anxiety, something he knows all too well.
“ I’ve been suffering from depression anxiety for about seven years,” Torres said.
But instead of giving up, he took action and created the group “You’re Not Alone."
“You’re Not Alone is a nonprofit that raises awareness to the youth about mental health issues, and shows the daily effects it has on business, education and life,” he explained.
They reach kids through school visits and social media, and Alex hopes to help more through his relationship with Paralympic athlete, Rudy Garcia-Tolson. They were brought together by the Citi Foundation's Pathways to Progress program, which comprises programs across the globe that are helping youth build an entrepreneurial mindset, acquire leadership, financial and workplace skills, and begin to engage in the formal economy through a first job.
“We all have challenges, some you can see and some you cannot and I think moving forward, when you’re chasing your goals and your dreams, it’s always knowing that you’re going to have setbacks," Garcia-Tolson said.
His setbacks? Having both legs amputated, but, that didn’t stop him. He went on to win two Gold medals for swimming and will be competing this summer in Rio for the fourth time.
“Sometimes you ask yourself, why me? Why am I the one with no legs?" he said. "But I think I’ve been able to embrace my differences and been able to show the world what’s possible.”
A can-do attitude, Alex also embraces. He’s currently the first of his family to go to college.
“My degree at St. John’s University is Sports Management but I really want to align the sports world and the mental health world,” Torres explained.
But his biggest joy is seeing how lives are changed just by offering a helping hand.
“The best part of what I do is after I give a speech and the stories I hear after because that’s when they start to open up,” he smiled.
Produced by: Kim Pestalozzi
Alex Torres has a simple message he wants every person to understand.
“It’s all about making sure you establish a community of people that realizes, we’re not alone in this process,” he said.
The process fighting depression and anxiety, something he knows all too well.
“ I’ve been suffering from depression anxiety for about seven years,” Torres said.
But instead of giving up, he took action and created the group “You’re Not Alone."
“You’re Not Alone is a nonprofit that raises awareness to the youth about mental health issues, and shows the daily effects it has on business, education and life,” he explained.
They reach kids through school visits and social media, and Alex hopes to help more through his relationship with Paralympic athlete, Rudy Garcia-Tolson. They were brought together by the Citi Foundation's Pathways to Progress program, which comprises programs across the globe that are helping youth build an entrepreneurial mindset, acquire leadership, financial and workplace skills, and begin to engage in the formal economy through a first job.
“We all have challenges, some you can see and some you cannot and I think moving forward, when you’re chasing your goals and your dreams, it’s always knowing that you’re going to have setbacks," Garcia-Tolson said.
His setbacks? Having both legs amputated, but, that didn’t stop him. He went on to win two Gold medals for swimming and will be competing this summer in Rio for the fourth time.
“Sometimes you ask yourself, why me? Why am I the one with no legs?" he said. "But I think I’ve been able to embrace my differences and been able to show the world what’s possible.”
A can-do attitude, Alex also embraces. He’s currently the first of his family to go to college.
“My degree at St. John’s University is Sports Management but I really want to align the sports world and the mental health world,” Torres explained.
But his biggest joy is seeing how lives are changed just by offering a helping hand.
“The best part of what I do is after I give a speech and the stories I hear after because that’s when they start to open up,” he smiled.
Produced by: Kim Pestalozzi