Agatha Funes ’22 epitomizes courage, resiliency, and perseverance. Injured while serving with the Army in Iraq, Funes lives with multiple disabilities, including a traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, hearing loss, and severe physical ailments that often leave her bedbound. Despite these challenges, she excelled at John Jay, becoming a member of the SALUTE Veterans National Honor Society and earning her Master of Arts in Human Rights with a 4.0 GPA. “Having a disability doesn’t mean you are broken or less than. A disability does not make you weak. It does the opposite. It makes you stronger. You learn to persevere despite the obstacles put in your way,” she says.

Starting Over
After a decade in the U.S. Army, Funes transitioned to civilian life and realized how much had changed. In addition to physical injuries incurred in Iraq, she also experienced long-term effects that weren’t visible to others. Looking at a computer screen bothered her eyes. Her ability to read and retain information declined. Severe anxiety and panic attacks almost led to heart failure and called for a pacemaker. Loud noises, crowds, and slamming doors would make her jump. Thankfully, her supervisor, a veteran, recognized what was happening. “He suggested I see a counselor. That’s when I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.”

Equipped with the knowledge of what was happening to her, Funes decided to take back her power. “I was physically not well, but I didn’t want to become depressed. So, I sat my husband and son down and told them I wanted to go after my dreams. I wanted to go back to school, earn my master’s degree and become a veteran advocate. They were completely on board.”

Coming to John Jay
“I wanted to be an advocate for women veterans who don’t always have a voice in the world. When I saw John Jay offered a master’s degree in Human Rights I said, ‘Yes, I need to go there.’” At John Jay, Funes found support in the College’s strong veteran and military community, where she was part of the Veteran’s Association, and in the Human Rights Department. “Program Director Charlotte Walker-Said played a major role in my life. From the moment we met she empowered me,” says Funes. “She told me, ‘Don’t ever give up. Tell me what you need and I’ll help you.’ Just knowing that she was there to support me in all the ways I needed was so amazing. I couldn’t have done it without her.”

The College’s Office of Accessibility Services also played a vital role in Funes’ success. “They are there to uplift students who have disabilities. The Office of Accessibility Services team provided letters to my professors saying that I may need some additional time to complete assignments. They gave me PDFs of reading materials ahead of time so I would have the space to get ‘caught up’ in class. They supplied me with note taking and typing assistance technology because typing can be especially difficult for me. Their support got me to the finish line.”

Life at Home
At home, Funes was buoyed by her husband Luis and son Andrew. “I have hearing loss and listening to audio can be difficult for me. My son would come home from work and school and help me listen to the audios for class, assisting me with my readings. My husband was equally supportive,” says Funes, welling up with pride. “He would sit next to me during classes on Zoom and hold my hand letting me know he was always there. Once class was over, he would be there with ice packs ready to alleviate my physical pain. Their love for me was my source of strength. None of this is possible without them.”

Funes hopes to encourage students with disabilities to pursue their dreams and achieve academic success. “Do not be afraid to ask for help from friends, family, or professors,” she says. “There are professionals and administrators at John Jay who really care and want to help you achieve success. If you need help, ask for it and when it arrives, accept it fully. And don’t forget you are completely able to achieve all of your dreams.”