Whenever I think about how I got to where I am today, I think about my parents. They both came from small, impoverished rural villages in Mexico. They grew up in large families where children were expected to work to help their families. My father attended school only a handful of times throughout his childhood, while my mother was able to complete eighth grade before leaving school to sell gelatin and fruit to help support her family. 

Despite limited opportunities, they held tightly to the idea of the American Dream —  something widely imagined with optimism but met with lots of barriers. With limited education and English proficiency, they immigrated to the United States and faced immense barriers in building a life in a new country. Yet, there was pride in their effort and in maintaining their identity as Mexican immigrants building something worthwhile. Their sacrifices became the foundation for everything I am pursuing. 

Veterinary medicine was not something my parents envisioned for me. In our household, animals were part of daily life due to my love for them, but caring for them was a responsibility, not a career. 

That changed when my first pet became ill. I remember how helpless I felt, wanting to do more and not knowing how. That moment stayed with me. What began as a childhood experience slowly grew into a clear sense of purpose. 

From an early age, I knew that my path was different. I felt like I had to work twice as hard just to be considered equal. That belief pushed me to become a top student throughout my entire schooling. While that discipline has helped me succeed, it also came with a quiet pressure to constantly prove myself: not only for me, but for my family and community. 

“I am not the same person who entered veterinary school. Some of that growth has come from moments that pushed me outside of my comfort zone.”

The path has not been easy. The demands of higher education and clinical training often feel overwhelming. At times, it was not just my personal expectations I had to carry, but also the unspoken hopes of my parents, who have given everything to support my future. They may not always understand how veterinary medicine works, but their support keeps me steady. 

As I am close to graduation, I reflect not only on the academic journey, but on the personal one as well. I am not the same person who entered veterinary school. Some of that growth has come from moments that pushed me outside of my comfort zone.

An example is my experience with the Mazunte Project in Oaxaca, Mexico. There, I participated in a spay and neuter externship in a rural community, working alongside other veterinary students and veterinarians. Our mission was to help reduce the number of free-roaming dogs, which plays a role in protecting endangered sea turtles by decreasing predation on their eggs and hatchlings. 

The communities we visited were so grateful, and the visible impact of our work made the experience unforgettable. This experience felt especially personal because it gave me the chance to give back to my cultural roots where my parents came from after they left so much behind to start a new life. Being able to apply my clinical skills in the place I’m from was incredibly moving, and that connection gave my work a deeper sense of purpose.

Soon, I will join the small percentage of Hispanic veterinarians in this profession. I hope to be both the representation and reassurance that this path is possible and that it is strengthened by the diversity of experiences that individuals bring into it. 

Throughout this journey, my mother’s words have remained with me: “Échale ganas.” Give it your all. It is a phrase commonly used in my culture that carries both expectation and love, and it has grounded me during moments of doubt. I carry my parents’ sacrifices with me into every step forward. And in that sense, I hope I am living proof that they truly got the job done and lived the American Dream.