Karely Gallegos Gonzalez Social Science
Bordered Identities: Emotional Well-Being and Identity Formation Among Transfronterizo Students
Scholars Journal
This project explores how Transfronterizo students, individuals who live in Mexico and cross the U.S.–Mexico border for education, navigate identity and emotional well-being while pursuing higher education. Although thousands of students engage in daily cross-border commuting, research has largely focused on logistical and institutional barriers, overlooking the psychological dimensions of this experience. Through qualitative interviews, this study examines how students understand belonging, negotiate cultural expectations, and manage the emotional impact of living between two nations. It also highlights the strengths that emerge from this experience, including resilience and bicultural competence. By centering student narratives, this project offers a more holistic understanding of Transfronterizo life and provides insights for universities seeking to better support binational and bicultural students both within and beyond border regions.
Major: Psychology
Mentor: Liliana Rodriguez, Ethnic Studies