This year’s Cabrillo Talks will highlight powerful personal stories from students and staff, including Lizett Zuniga Zamudio and Grayson Hutchinson. Their stories aim to connect with the audience through honest reflections on culture, identity and mental health.
This 2nd annual event, hosted by the Office of Student Equity, features students and staff sharing personal stories centered on resilience, identity and community. Inspired by TED Talks, it offers a platform for voices often unheard on campus.
Zamudio, a division administrative assistant and non-traditional student, will speak about breaking cultural and intergenerational expectations within Mexican culture.
“I’m about to turn 40, and I just graduated from Cabrillo last year,” Zamudio said. “I’m a single mom of two, and I wanted to show my kids that it’s never too late to follow your dreams or go back to school.”
She reflected on her upbringing and the expectations placed on women in her community.
“In our culture, there’s this pattern—you meet someone young, start having kids, and take care of your family,” she said. “I did that, but I felt like I wanted more.”
That realization led her back to school and toward new goals.
“When you grow up in Mexican culture, there’s so much self-sacrifice expected,” Zamudio said. “I knew I had to break that cycle.”
Grayson Hutchinson, who will graduate this semester, said joining Cabrillo Talks was a way to push himself before leaving campus.
“I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and try something new before I graduated,” Hutchinson said.
He will be speaking about living with OCD, a topic he chose for both its accessibility and personal connection.
“I went back and forth between talking about OCD and my trans identity, but I felt OCD would be more relatable,” he said. “One of my close friends has it too, so writing this speech together has been a bonding experience.”
Hutchinson hopes his story helps others better understand mental health.
“I want people to see how complex mental health disorders really are—and that kindness is essential to creating a better world,” he said.
Community has played a big role in Hutchinson’s time at Cabrillo, especially through his involvement in the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) and the Office of Student Equity (OSE).
“It’s been genuinely life-changing. I met my best friends through the GSA—they’ve become like family,” he said. “Working at the OSE helped me build confidence and gain experience. I’m a proud, active member of my community, which is not something I envisioned when I first came to Cabrillo.”
He has also helped create safe spaces on campus, like the Rainbow Lounge in the library and the annual Queer Prom.
“We put a lot of effort into the lounge and events, and people do use them—but I’m not sure how many queer students actually know they exist,” Hutchinson said. “I try to promote everything through our GSA Instagram page.”
Hutchinson believes storytelling, especially for queer and trans students, is a powerful tool.
“I grew up without seeing diversity, so it was hard to picture myself succeeding,” he said. “I want to show people that disabled, transgender people of color belong in this world. There are so many different ways to succeed, and education is one of the most powerful tools we have.”
Cabrillo Talks is more than a speaking event, it’s a chance to hear real stories from real people in the campus community. Whether it’s about navigating cultural expectations, living with OCD, or finding family through student groups, these stories offer something for everyone.
This event will take place on Sunday, May 4, from 5 – 8 p.m. at the Samper Recital Hall on Cabrillo College’s Aptos campus. Admission is free, but tickets are required
RSVP at this link!