Justine Ramos- President of Marketing and Activities
" I've always had trouble expressing my emotions and being vulnerable. I unhealthily internalized all my feelings. Writing poetry helped, but it was performing poetry that taught me that being vulnerable can be self-healing and cathartic. The most rewarding part of the spoken-word experience is hearing all the snapping and knowing that there are people out there who understand and can relate to your experiences."
Justine Ramos is a third-year English and Human Biology and Society Major with a Minor in Global Health. Though she immigrated to the United States knowing zero English, her weakness became her strength after using poetry as a creative outlet. Her poetry has been published in numerous literary magazines and anthologies including Teen Ink's National Literary Print Magazine and WriteGirl's Award-Winning Anthologies. Justine has also won many scholarships and honorary mentions for her poetry and has been recognized as a Los Angeles Youth Poet Laureate Ambassador. After performing and hosting a few open mics, she eventually organized and lead her high school's very first Slam Team called the "Poetatoes." Though they only had weeks to prepare for their first slam competition, the Poetatoes were semi-finalists in the Get Lit Classic Slam, the largest Classic Slam in the country!
Today, Justine continues to perform poetry for UCLA, private events, schools, and non-profit organizations while also judging slam poetry competitions. She currently teaches students with disabilities how to use poetry and creative writing to stimulate their cognitive functions. She is also a member of the Regents Scholars Society (RSS), the RSS Los Angeles Mentorship Program, the Alumni Scholars Club (ASC), the Gold Shield Alumnae, the Pilipino Alumni Association, Society for Physical and Occupational Therapy, the Odyssey Online, Samahang Pilipino Education and Retention, and Pilipinos for Community Health