I was born and raised in Southern California. My parents are from Mexico and neither of them finished high school. I however was fortunate to attend and graduate from a rigorous high school. Currently I’m working towards my bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering with a pre-med concentration at Columbia University. After graduating from Columbia, I hope to attend medical school and eventually become a doctor.
My family has played an important role in my academic success. My father has been my inspiration. At a young age I noticed my father working long hours, performing tiring, manual labor. As our family increased in size, I would see him less and less. And yet, my father never complained. I learned from him the importance of hard work and education. I also learned a lot from my mother as I truly admire her for raising my four siblings and I to have a strong work ethic. My parents have always depended upon my older brother and I to help out our younger siblings with their schoolwork. I know my younger siblings look up to me and I want to be a positive role model for them and show them that Latinos can indeed succeed academically and professionally.
My advice to incoming freshman is to take advantage of the resources your school offers. Know what is out there and make the best of it. With respect to being on your own for the first time, make sure you manage your time wisely and find a balance between work and fun. Keep an open mind and remember to have fun!
HSF’s mission to double the amount of Latino students receiving college diplomas is admirable and I support it 100%. Education is extremely important in our society and is a means to better oneself and one’s community. Latino graduates can become leaders within their communities and use their knowledge and experiences to influence their communities in a positive manner.