Christopher Resendiz is a third-year RP Scholar who will attend San Jose State University in the fall after recently graduating from Berkeley City College. He is a Psychology major who graduated from El Cerrito High School, and he joined the Richmond Promise Summer Associates program in the summer of 2026. He is also a member of the RP Leads career accelerator program.

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself. Is there anything in particular that motivates you as you go through college and prepare yourself for a career?

A: I am really passionate about helping others; it’s one of the biggest reasons I chose to pursue Psychology as my major. My own experiences in therapy have shown me that there can be cultural gaps between what a therapist understands and what a client has experienced. I hope to become a therapist who recognizes those gaps and approaches clients with a willingness to listen and adapt to their needs.

Q: How has Richmond Promise played a role in your education?

A: Richmond Promise has become a resource I can rely on whenever, and whatever, the need may be. Just to name one example, Leo, the Career Services Manager, has been a huge lifeline that I relied on to help me learn career development skills. He taught me the basics to a good resume and helped me tailor my existing resume to my major and specific job postings.

Q: Why did you choose to be a Richmond Promise Summer Associate and what are you hoping to take from the experience?

A: I chose to be a Richmond Promise Summer Associate because of how many people I could help. I remember how confusing and uncertain of a process the move from high school to college felt like and I wanted to be able to help others the way I received help. I hope to leave my time as a Summer Associate knowing that I was able to help students transition less stressful.

Q: What do you want to contribute to Richmond and/or the world?

A: I want to help. A lot of progress has been made in de-stigmatising mental health and therapy but accessibility has not caught up. I want to provide an accessible place for the people of Richmond to get the mental health care they need.

Q: How has your current college experience gone, and what has been the best part?

A: My college experience has generally gone well. While challenging at times, I have always come out of classes having learned psychological and therapeutic perspectives that I had never heard of before. Teachers have pushed back and challenged my world views and assumptions, helping me to think critically and become more empathetic.

Q: What advice would you give to a first-year Richmond Promise Scholar who is just heading off to a new college or CTE program?

A: I would tell first-year Richmond Promise Scholars heading off to a new college to get involved and participate in events. From my own experience at community college, it can be hard to make new friends, but participating in clubs and events will make it easier to find people and create a sense of community.

Q: What are you looking forward to doing after finishing school?

A: After finishing school, I look forward to having more time to spend on the different hobbies I enjoy like pottery, embroidery, and gardening.