As a first generation Mexican American, raised by a single mother, I have found that my ultimate passion and purpose is to improve the life of others. Arriving to such convictions is an amazing feeling that motivates me every day and pushes me to strive to be the very best at anything I...

EARLY LIFE - GROWING UP IN POVERTY

Hola mi nombre es Itzel Martinez, I am a Software Engineer at Pandora and this is my story. 

          In 1995, I was born into the beautiful city of Oaxaca, Mexico, which is where I went to school up until the second grade. At the age of seven, I made my journey to...

            Hi, my name is Jessica and I’m a second-year MD/MBA student. I’ve come a long way and I’ve got a long way to go! What I’ve found on my journey to becoming a physician is this: things will rarely go according to plan, no one’s path is perfect, and no two paths are identical. The only way...

          I am a first-generation Latina college student. I can't think of anyone else in my family with a degree in higher education. I come from humble hardworking parents who have done their best to raise four girls. I’m the oldest, trying my best to be a strong role model for my sisters. For as...

          Twenty-five years ago, I never would have imagined I could be a scientist, let alone working on a Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry at Yale University. Looking back on my journey, this was possible by the role of mentors who guided me on my journey towards STEM. I plan on sharin...

          “This is composite wood. I want actual wood.” I followed close on my father’s heels as he blazed through the bathroom showrooms at Home Depot, scrutinizing cabinet after cabinet. I held onto his calloused hand as he explained to me the difference. The cabinets in the display were made of a...

          I thought I had more time, but I didn’t. By the time high school approached, I hadn’t filled out any college applications or financial aid forms. I didn’t notice at the time because none of my friends were filling out applications either. High school graduation seemed to sneak up, but mayb...

          My interest and fascination with computers was always there. My first computer was an old and used model that my dad brought home. I remember playing and customizing the settings because I liked the idea that I could control what the computer did. How does this feature work? What happens w...

          My patients call me doctora. I’m still not used to it, but I love it. I like the idea of improving their health and easing their troubles. I have to admit that I had many doubts and waves of emotion along the way, but I’m very glad that I learned to push myself forward. What helped me imme...

          I was the shy nerdy girl who liked school. I’ve always liked that about myself. I remember doing competitions in my head to see if I could finish writing down multiplication tables faster than other students in the class. I often won because I practiced a lot. These are my earliest memorie...

            I grew up in Los Reyes, Michoacán, México, where there were a couple of sugar mills nearby that processed sugar cane into sugar. Following a slash–and-burn agricultural technique the sugar cane fields were harvested manually by people using machetes. By the end their workday they were co...

         Science was an active part of my life early on. I was fascinated with Donatello - the teenage mutant ninja turtle. Donatello was considered to be the smartest Ninja Turtle who was an inventor, into science and technology. Sparks often flew in the background as he fixed, built, or tinkered a...

            There they were front and center talking pictures, jumping up with joy, and cheering for me as I walked to the center of the stage. I was in the second grade, receiving a certificate of achievement for being at the top of my class back in Peru. Seeing my mother and aunt cheering for me w...

            Growing up I was the type of girl who was always curious. I had endless questions that kept me thinking and interested in just about everything. Teachers assigned classwork, but I wanted to know why it mattered. What was the purpose or significance of the assignm...