Excerpt from San Diego City College MESA – A Learning Culture:
Taking STEM Education to a New Level (Summer 2017)
BEFORE MESA
My family decided to pursue the American Dream by moving to a country with more resources and opportunities for personal growth. The transition provoked a culture shock within me; I faced having to learn a new language, and I began an educational journey full of uncertainty. Although college was an expectation from my hard-working parents, I walked-in blindfolded with no previous knowledge of the educational system. As a Latina first generation college student from a marginalized community like Barrio Logan, earning a degree in a rigorous field is a great challenge. I began my studies at City College in basic skills English and Math, and I tried to join the MESA program, but I was not accepted because my math level was too low. However, MESA Director Alvarez challenged me to learn the MESA culture, and I was determined to join the MESA program. As a result, I earned a 4.0 GPA in my first two years, I qualified for the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, I made the Dean’s List, and I earned my spot as a MESA Creator!
WHAT THE MESA LEARNING CULTURE MEANS TO ME
There is a reason why MESA Creators are the best— without the MESA culture and my MESA family, I would’ve probably dropped out of college. My life has changed dramatically since I joined the MESA Program. I have become a more competitive scholar with the confidence to fight through any challenge that may jeopardize my future. In addition to learning the MESA culture, I gained a network of MESA scholars who have become family, and I have gained a mental toughness which has helped me throughout my journey. For example, when I worked two-part time jobs to help support my family, while being a full-time student, there were days where it was very discouraging to stay in school because I was running on no sleep and no money. However, with the help of my Corner Man (MESA Director Alvarez) and my MESA program, I was determined to continue and finish strong without letting anything negative get in my mind. In addition, I will take the learning culture with me throughout my educational and professional career. My experience as a MESA Creator is something that I will cherish forever because it has empowered me to believe in myself, continue the fight to complete my education, and to change the statistics on student success.
MY FUTURE
As a Latina woman living in a marginalized community, I have experienced first-hand the lack of education and resources in the areas of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Because of this, my academic goal is to pursue an M.D.- Ph.D. degree with a focus on women’s health. My dream is to practice medicine, promote human sexual and reproductive education, and conduct my own research related to women’s health. I hope to one-day serve as a bridge between the healthcare system and under-served women of color. I earned my Associate’s degree in Human Biology from City College, and I am currently participating in UC San Diego’s (UCSD) Summer Training Academy for Research Success Program. I will transfer in the Fall with a full-ride scholarship to UCSD, where I plan to obtain my Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology before entering medical school.
MY ADVICE
Future rising scholars must know that to be successful in school and life you must be mentally tough, and you must not take anything personal. Also, surround yourself with people who want to be successful, never allow yourself to become a victim (use early alert), and say no to self-sabotage. Moreover, there is a learning culture in higher education; you better learn it and apply it. Remember that to achieve whatever you want in life, you must want it as much as you want to breathe!
Robertha Amezola transferred from San Diego City College to the University of California San Diego, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology on her way to becoming a science professional. She also earned a Master of Science degree in Computational Biology from Arizona State University. She is currently an Applications Scientist 2 Research and Development with Thermo Fisher Scientific.