When it comes to advocating for social justice, Daille has been making waves and taking stances that have affected real change.

How small actions can make a big difference

“While in college/university, I've had two different office assistant jobs: a data specialist in the Lake Michigan College Admissions department, and a general office assistant at the UM-Dearborn Disability & Accessibility Services (DAS) office. As a data specialist, I would often send out admissions letters—some of which were addressed to potential students living in local homeless shelters. I hope that even something as small as an acceptance letter gave those students an opportunity to gain an education and build a better future.

“In the DAS office, I am constantly making UM-Dearborn a more accessible learning environment—from test-proctoring to alternative formatting. As a disabled student, I know how hard it is to advocate for yourself in higher education, and I hope I'm lifting some of that burden for other students as well.

“In both positions, my goal was to make small differences in the community every day, and I did just that.”

Advocating for funding

“In June of 2021, all three campus student governments came together to organize the Fund Our Future rally in Ann Arbor. The rally advocated for an extension of the Go Blue Guarantee to the Dearborn and Flint campuses, as well as a $10 million allocation to each campus from central funding. One University had/has advocated for these causes since 2018 and was a major part of the Fund Our Future Rally. The event was successful, as the day after, the regents announced the extension of the Go Blue Guarantee at the June Regent's Meeting.”

A future psychologist… or, perhaps, a psychiatrist

“After recognizing the lack of quality psychiatric care in our communities, and country, I’m hoping to one day be a clinical psychologist (Psy.D) or a psychiatrist (MD) working in forensic psychology or in an emergency psychiatry setting (Psych ER, inpatient units, crisis centers, etc). Crisis work has an incredibly high turnover rate due to its intense and emotionally draining conditions that not everyone can cope with. I started volunteering for Crisis Textline as a Crisis Counselor to see if I could handle the pressure and emotional toll of crisis work, and I absolutely loved it. 

“I've also started a women's and gender studies minor to learn more about systems of power that create systemic injustice in society, which in turn contributes to psychiatric illness. Because of this, I believe that everyone deserves quality care despite humanity's flaws and individual shortcomings. Psychological counseling is a role that needs to be filled and I am willing to fill it.”