While a foster youth in Puerto Rico, Cristal He He ’29 developed the adaptability and leadership skills that now define her.
Removed from her family at the beginning of the pandemic, she had to rediscover identity, culture and belonging while navigating a new system among unfamiliar faces.
Inspired to help others facing similar challenges, He He founded Creando Cristales—Creating Crystals—a mentorship initiative connecting foster teens with community and educational resources.
Her club—a reflection of her commitment to reimagining support systems for youth through education and advocacy—bridged her school and local group homes and offered those in foster care programs centered on self-expression, cultural identity and personal growth.
Resistant to her help at first, the teens warmed up to her the more she visited.
“I saw a lot of growth,” she says. “A lot of moments where the girls truly felt they could express themselves and learn more about the community outside the group home.”
While weighing her college options, He He spent three days at Pomona through the College’s fly in program, Perspectives on Pomona (POP). Between interacting with students and professors, sitting in on classes and attending campus events, the College “hit all the specific marks I wanted in a community,” she says.
She now participates in Chicano Latino Student Affairs (CLSA) activities and the Asian American Mentor Program (AAMP), where her cross-cultural background informs her approach to community building and policy comprehension.
Before leaving for Claremont, He He entrusted Creando Cristales to a new president who shares her vision and keeps her updated on its ongoing work. Her plan to pursue a career in law stems from a commitment to ensuring those navigating complex systems are heard and represented.
“It was difficult to navigate a new world, and I’m deeply grateful for those experiences,” she says. “They taught me resilience, sharpened my understanding of systems, and strengthened my purpose to create opportunities for others in the community that shaped me.”