Veronica Vega

Veronica Vega

Class Status: Sophomore

Major: Cellular and Molecular Biology

Campus Involvements: STEM Scholars Program and Encounter to Excellence Program

Career Goal: Registered Nurse

Hobbies: Reading, listening to music + dancing, cooking, baking, exercising, soccer + basketball, movies and making people laugh

How has CSI³ helped you?
The CSI³ undergraduate staff makes me feel comfort and joy. They give me personal and academic advice. They support me with tutoring whenever I am struggling with classes. I love that they constantly check-in on me. Those check-ins make me feel that they truly care and love me.

What keeps you motivated and positive throughout life’s hardships?
I try to be the best that I can be for my mother (who is fighting an illness; she gets dialysis three times a week). It’s so heartbreaking to see her in pain and suffering. I don’t like to see her in that condition, so I try my very best to not let it get to me. I practice smiling everyday through thick and thin. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I get very sad and I want to quit, but then I see her, how strong she is, how she fights for me and for herself everyday. She is who keeps me motivated and positive. She helps me stay grounded and helps me move towards my goals. I want her to be proud of the woman I am becoming because of her. I love my mother so much!

What advice would you like to give to your fellow scholars?
When you truly care about something and someone, all you need to do is believe in yourself and go for it. When you think you can’t do something just remember why you are doing it in the first place.

What are your plans after graduation?
To become a Registered Nurse and get my Master’s degree and/or PhD. Also, I would like to work towards a Sociology degree at some point. “REMEMBER, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.”