Meet Arlys Tineo

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Arlys Tineo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Arlys, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

As an adult, I realize my resilience comes from my 1st generation experience. Growing up in a predominately white neighborhood, I constantly felt out of place. I was never able to find a safe space where I could show my Latinidad and also simulate with my white counterparts. When trying to connect with classmates, I moved in constant anxiety of not being accepted and being looked at as “foreign”. As I started to navigate the higher educational space, I continued to feel discomfort in spaces, although I knew in my heart that I was deserving of the spaces I was in. I was on the Dean’s list every semester and started participating in coveted programs. But no matter what I achieved, I never felt “enough” or “competent” to continue navigating such spaces. It wasn’t until graduate school that I learned of the term “imposter syndrome”. In a way, I felt comfort in finally identifying the phenomenon I was experiencing and knowing others have experienced the same. Have I overcome it? As I say “I take things one day at a time”. However, my imposter syndrome has massively improved since that girl in high school. I owe a lot of this to the community I’ve established as a Latina social worker. I realize we all have the power of intention, and intentionally placing ourselves in spaces we are comfortable and deserving. As a Latina social worker, this intention takes on a much higher toll as I become a voice for the voiceless. The imposter syndrome will always be there but my friends, family, and community always remind me of the role I play.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a 1st generation Dominican American from Rockland County, NY with a background working with diverse populations and a strong advocate for language access and cultural humility. For 7 years, I lived in Brooklyn, NY where I received my Bachelor’s in Social Work (BSW) from CUNY Medgar Evers College and Master’s in Social Work (MSW) from New York University Silver School of Social Work. My experience working in client-focused environments has led me to macro, mezzo, and micro practice experiences in community and clinical settings. I worked with populations such as immigrants, homeless, college students, medical, psychiatry, and victims of natural disasters.

Now as a licensed master social worker (LMSW), I am back in Rockland County working as the Lead Clinician for an Unaccompanied Children’s Program. In my role, I support and supervise clinicians with service delivery, documentation, and client-related issues in addition to providing direct therapeutic services to Unaccompanied Youth. I am also a part time psychiatric social worker at my local hospital’s emergency department allowing me to gain further clinical experience during the early stages of my career.

I’m also a member of the Education Committee with the Latino Social Work Coalition by assisting in the Scholarship Fund and co-facilitating “Libros con Sazón” a book club, discussion zone, and networking opportunity for social workers and allies. The Coalition’s work is near and dear to my heart as a language access advocate and ensuring culturally humble social workers enter spaces.

I’m excited to also share that I will soon be a published author in my latest collaboration with “Latinx in Social Work Vol III Mentor/Mentee Version”. My chapter will be highlighting the 1st generation experience correlation with language access and I’m very excited for my community to read my story.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I was once told “We live in a society that’s always focused on the next task, the next day, the next week. And we expect life to improve or become easier but how will we do that by exhibiting the same pattern of behavior every day?” This is something I reflect on often. Life after COVID taught us to expect the unexpected and be grateful for the little moments, so why not live in the present? Focus on right now instead of the next thing, and the thing after that. Be present.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

Through all hardship and obstacles, my parents supported me in my career. They never tried to sway me in different directions. And even on days when I felt like quitting, they supported me emotionally, financially, and physically. I would not be the social worker I am today were it not for their resilience and my upbringing. Growing up, I developed a lot of resentment towards my parents for the way I was raised in my Dominican household and navigating an American school. “Ni de aqui, ni de alla” became my everyday experience. However, growing up now I realized my parents did the absolute best they could to raise their 2 Dominican American daughters and I am very grateful for their ever ending support.

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arlystineo/