Maija Cruz ('12)

About

A little about me

Since graduating, I’ve worked everywhere from the GSB, to Housing Operations, to Residential Education, until finding this rewarding work. I am one of the 3 original coaches in our program and I’m proud to now serve as Assistant Director, supporting the Identity-based Coaching and Outreach aspects of our team. I enjoyed my time but, as a non-traditional student coming in, I struggled. I would have had a much better experience if I had coaches as our team exists now. I have seen first hand how coaching can help all students get what they need from their Stanford experience, flourish here, and create a life they can feel good about. 

What coaching with me could look like

Coaching with me is a safe, non-judgmental space where I serve as your accountability and thought partner. We will work together to define your goals and create steps towards those goals that feel resonant, realistic, and reflective of your values. I find it particularly rewarding to support those feeling ‘othered’ or who struggle to give themselves permission to exist authentically. I believe that decolonizing our mental health and well-being is about relationship building and reframing, not hot-take jargon. All topics and identities are welcomed here, and I particularly enjoy values discovery work, life design, and helping people discover their own versions of meaning making. 

What I’m up to outside of coaching

I’m Ojibwe and Mexican, FLI, a collectivist through and through, and a social psychologist (shoutout to the SPARQ lab - formerly the MCS lab!). Community and authenticity are not performative words for me, they’re essential survival tools and foundational values, and I share these values with my chosen circle. That circle includes a wide variety of characters, but my two favorites are my dog, Potato, and my partner.