Could you tell us a little bit about your educational background?

While at CSUSB, I learned a B.A in Biology as well as a B.A in Spanish and two Spanish certificates (Healthcare Spanish & Spanish for Public Services).

What first got you interested in the healthcare field as a career choice? There are a lot of career options in the field -nursing, physician assistant, etc., what made you decide that genetic counseling was the right practice area/career choice for you?

My interest in genetics began in elementary school when I presented the principals of the Punnett square as a science project. In high school I took an aptitude test that matched me with several healthcare career options, one of which was Genetic Counseling. Upon reading the description, I was no longer able to picture my future as anything but a genetic counselor. I am determined to become an advocate and representative of the Hispanic community within the field of genetics.

What type of obstacles have you had to overcome on the road to getting your education and in particular in pursuing your Genetic Counseling degree?

I am a first-generation college student from a low-income background. Maintaining a job while pursing two bachelor’s degrees was increasingly difficult at times. I had very little free time to gain in person exposure to Genetic Counseling. However, this pushed me to be more observant during the experiences I did have.

What are you most looking forward to about beginning your Genetic Counseling studies?

I am most looking forward to building upon my social skills and achieving the personal growth that will enable me to best serve the community. I am also very excited to be immersed in the didactic curriculum. As an undergrad, I truly enjoyed the learning process because the context was so relevant and interesting. I anticipate that this graduate program will be exponentially enjoyable.

What is one fun and interesting fact about you?

One fun and interesting fact about me is that I will sing “El Rey” with the mariachi at any given opportunity.