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Career Spotlight: Medical Professional

May 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment

From la pisca, manual labor to a successful PhD in Nurse Practice, Beatriz Bautista is an exemplary role model, not just for Latinas, but to all women.

Can you tell us more about your background?

I’m from Edinburg, TX but spent most of my childhood in Idaho. My grandparents came to this country thanks to the Bracero Movement, and I grew up with them picking seasonal crops, such as onions, apples and cherries.

What was your childhood like?

(smiles while reminiscing) I remember at 16 years old, besides going to school, I was driving those big trucks that have all of the apples and crops.

Having no background in the medical field, what made you choose this career?

Yes, I am a first generation student and I had no idea what I wanted to be. I wanted to help sick people. I was hungry for knowledge. I came to understand and told myself if you want something you have to work for it.

When I graduated high school, my grades weren’t the best, but then I enrolled in University and learned that if you work hard for your grades, school becomes easier and easier. I first enrolled in a Gen Ed, program because I was undecided, then I knew what my vocation was.
Who is your personal role model?
My tia, she is a LVN, licensed vocational nurse, and worked as a public health nurse. She also did medical translations; she was one of the few Latinas in the medical field in Idaho that spoke Spanish. I appreciated how solicited she was, being bilingual made her worth for 2.

Has being latina and a woman ever been an obstacle for you?

For me being a latina is something you wear proud, you have the gift of diversity. Knowing two languages makes you worth for 2. Latinas are known for loyalty and their charisma, as well as nurturing and sensitive individuals, once you know how to appreciate your culture it should make you fearless and stoppable.

Do you have any advice for young girls who are interested in the medical field?

Work on your GPA, if you have good grades a lot of doors will open, not to mention the endless opportunities that are available; scholarships, work-study. If you struggle with science, biology and math, my suggestion is to get tom know your teacher better. They are there to help you, especially if you show an interest or curiosity for the medical field.

There are also programs that offer help and guidance in the field, such as HOSA and Med-Ed, you can also volunteer at a hospital.
Hispanic parents, especially if you are a first generation student like myself, may not value education as much and want their kids to be working right away. I tell you, YOU CAN DO BOTH! Through out my education I was always working, I paid for my studies; there was a point in my life where I was 3 professions: a nurse, a student and a mother. Don’t loose focus, and you will find success. A lot of Latinas come from households where the parents do not understand how important an education is.

Do you have a personal story or anecdote that you would like to share with our readers?

When I was accepted in University, I was afraid. I felt a lot of responsibility, being the first person in my family to go to University. My grandfather has always believed in me, which also made me nervous and afraid to fail and let him down. But at the same time it made me stronger and fearless. I needed to prove myself that I could do it. After I got my first A in college, everything else seemed to make sense and I started getting more and more As. I think it helped that I was always hungry for knowledge; I was passionate about what I was doing.

You have been awarded Nurse Practitioner of the Year and now hold a PhD, what is next?

I want to get my Menopause Certification, NCMP, specialize in this hormonal change that a lot of Latinas and just women in general do not understand. I want to be there for them during these hard times, and help them understand what they are going through and get through it better.

 

Dr.Bettyis available for mentoring and to answer any questions you may have on the field.

 

Please contact the author to get in touch with Dr.Bautista.

Filed Under: Careers for Girls, Girls, Her History for Girls Tagged With: , , , , ,

Latina Fashion Designers

April 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Have you ever stopped to consider the work and creativity that goes behind designing gorgeous Latina fashion? It takes a very creative fashionista to come up and establish fashion trends. Many people dream of having their own line of clothing and creating beautifully designed pieces that many will want to wear. However, designing trendy pieces and keeping up with the times can be tricky. Here are several Latina fashionistas who are designing chic clothing:

 

Carolina Herrera

Hailing from Caracas, Venezuala, Carolina’s clothing has been successful since the eighties and her clothing line, Carolina Herrera New York, has earned her a reputation as being high end. Carolina is one of the first designers to incorporate padded shoulders on her clothing, since it makes the waist appear smaller. This slimming effect turned out to be a huge success! Influential women, like Michelle Obama, Eva Longoria, Jessica Alba and Jeniffer Love Hewitt have been seen wearing pieces from her clothing line. Carolina also has her own line of fragrances called Carolina Herrera 212 and it is available in both Women and Men fragrances.

 

Alicia Estrada

Alicia is the CEO and founder of the vintage, retro inspired clothing line, Stop Staring! Alicia is a Mexican-American and was born in Long Beach, California. She started sewing at the ripe age of sixteen. Through her hard work and determination, she has turned her hobby into a successful business! Stop Staring! is very well tailored, elegant and can be worn to work or on a night out. Alicia’s clothing line Stop Staring! has been spotted on actresses such as America Ferrera Zooey Deschanel, Kim Kardashian, Ashley Greene, Heather Graham, Brittney Spears and Alexa Vega.

Agatha Ruiz De La Pradas

Agatha hails from Madrid, Spain. Her career began in the eighties after she opened her first studio/boutique in Spain. Agatha’s designs is best described as eccentric due to their extremely colorful and playful designs. Her designs have been described as being full of love, humor and optimism and this can be clearly seen in the symbols she chooses to be on her clothing, such as hearts and stars. Overall, Agatha’s clothing line leaves you feeling happy and giddy! Agatha’s clothing line extends from children to adult and includes her own swimwear line, shoes and accessories.

 

Selena Gomez

Selena was born in Grand Prairie, Texas in 1992. Selena is primarily an actress beginning at a very early age. Her greatest success with Disney Channel was in 2007 when she was cast as Alex Russo in the series Wizards of Waverly Place.Gomez has branched out of the small screen and has started a singing career and made appearances in other films. Recently, Selena has started a clothing line called Dreaming Out Loud. Sold at K-Mart, her clothing line is casual and feminine.  The line has a feminine, bohemian style accessories that allow the buyer to mix and match with her chic outfits.The best part is it is very affordable for the fashionista on a budget!

 

 

 

Filed Under: Girls, Her History for Girls, Leading Latinas for Girls

Latina Trailblazers in STEM

March 31, 2013 By Leave a Comment

By Lizette Ruiz & Olga Ochoa

From exploring space as an astronaut to creating new technology tools as an engineer, Latinas are reaching new heights as strong, innovative and smart women in the fields of  science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Overall, women, especially Latinas, still lag behind in these fields. According to the American Association of University Women, only 18 percent of engineering and technology college majors and 19 percent of computer and information-science majors are women. However, some notable Latinas are paving the way as trailblazers in these fields. Meet some amazing women who are making amazing accomplishments in the world of STEM.

Science

France Córdova (born August 5, 1947) is an astrophysicist, researcher, and university administrator. Currently she is the eleventh president of Purdue University. France was born in Paris, France to her Mexican father and her Irish American mother. From 1993 to 1996, she held the position of Chief Scientist at NASA, making her the youngest person and the first woman to hold this position. She has taught at different universities before becoming the president at Purdue. She is an important Latina for interdisciplinary work in education and science.

Technology

Dora Maria Abreu- Serves as Assistant President for Credit Suisse Information Technology Division. Dora received her Bachelor of Science as well as Master of Science degrees from the State University of New York. She also received a master’s degree in education from the Teachers College at Columbia University. Dora has had an impressive career by working for respectable companies and organizations such as Goldman Sachs, NASA, New York City Housing Authority, and IBM as well others. Dora also holds the prestigious privilege of being a a lifetime member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE). She has been involved with SHPE for over twenty years and has since shared many innovations of STEM with at the SHPE Junior High School chapters, as well as introduced many programs.

Engineering

Ellen Ochoa (born May 10, 1958) is the current Deputy Director of the Johnson Space Center, but is a former astronaut and engineer. Ellen became the first Hispanic woman in the world to go to space, where she logged in over 1,000 hours. She was a mission specialist, payload commander, and flight engineer on her missions to space. She was retired from spacecraft missions, but now serves as the Deputy Director at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Because of her notable achievement, she is great role model and is an important Latina.

Math

Ruth Gonzalez is a mathematician from Houston, Texas, who has made great accomplishments in the world of math. Both of Ruth’s parents were from Mexico. She graduated from Rice University in 1986, receiving her PHD in mathematics, making her the first U.S born, Hispanic, women to receive a PHD in Mathematics. While finishing her degree, Ruth began to to work for the Exxon Production Research Company as a  full-time as a geophysical mathematician. At Exxon, Ruth concentrated on the advancement of seismic imaging tools for exploring oil and gas reservoirs. She also helped develop valuable technology that would allow specialists to know where to dig for oil and gas ( which means big money). Ruth currently serves as an adviser for the Project Facilitation Team of the ExxonMobil Exploration Company. Ruth also partakes in encouraging Latinitas, like you, to pursue a degree in math and science.

While we still have a way to go before women are equally represented in these fields, these inspiring trailblazers are proving that Latinas can make a big impact in STEM.  Times are changing and now more and more women are pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and math. Their accomplishments and stories are truly inspiring. Maybe you too can follow in their footsteps and invent something awesome, come up with a super cool theory  or write your own scientific book!

Filed Under: Girls, Her History for Girls, Leading Latinas for Girls

Latina Artists in History

February 28, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Latina art history is known for its beautiful artisan craft works and weaving, but painters and print makers have been using all types of mediums to show their talents. We have gone throughout history to look for promising visual artists who have made an impact in the art world. These artists come from different genres in the art world starting from traditional folk culture, to surrealism, to impressionism. Each Latina artist is accredited and praised for their work and contribution to the art world or surrounding communities.


Frida Kahlo (July 6, 1907-1958)

Frida Kahlo holds many titles such as politician, feminist, and lover, but more importantly she’s a strong female/Latina (surrealist) painter. Inspired by her lack of physical activity after being bedridden from a horrific bus accident in 1925, Kahlo lived the life of an artist and became known for her strong and influential self portraits. Her paintings reflected her reality of a struggling and tumultuous life and marriage. She exhibited her work around the world and associated with other great minds in the arts, establishing great and long lasting relationships.

Carolina Antoniadis
Argentina native, Carolina Antoniadis was born into a family of artists and was destined to keep the tradition going. Starting off as a professor at the National School of Fine Arts in Prilidiano, Pueyrredon. Throughout many of her studies while teaching at the university, Antoniadis received fellowships to research and paint, always interested in the link between the problematics of art and design. She has won and received many awards for her distinct artistic creations that came about through much anticipation and is today, working and living in Buenos Aires. She has finished many collectives that have been exhibited throughout Argentina and the world.

Laura Lopez Cano
Laura Lopez Cano is an accredited painter who expresses women in a powerful light with true feminine qualities absorbed with inspirations from Hispanic culture and traditions. Cano has been recognized around the US for her community service, support and outreach contributions to many organizations that support education and women’s issues. She graduated with a BFA (Bachelor’s of Fine Arts) from the University of Texas at El Paso, and continued her studies in fashion illustration at Stephen’s College in Columbia, MO. Cano has multiple exhibits around the US and teaches college-level and private art classes.

 

 

Lola Cueto (Maria Dolores Velazquez)
Born on March 2, 18997 in Mexico City, Lola Cueto was a painter, print-maker, and puppet designer best known for her work in theater. A revolutionary for women in patriarchal Mexico, Cueto was one of the first women to attend the all boys academy of San Carlos, and also the first female student to be allowed into nude drawing classes. She traveled the world creating puppets and marionettes, and is well known for her impressionist style landscapes translated through her strong interests in Mexican handcrafts and folk art. After a life of creating traditional Mexican folk work, Cueto died January 24, 1978).


Judith Gutierrez (1927 – 2003)
Born in Ecuador, Judith Gutierrez moved to Mexico from political exile after studying at the school of fine arts in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and spending most of her childhood in a convent. Her artwork is engulfed with mystical scenes of nature, people, conjugated elements, and the cosmos all integrated into many different types of mediums. As a ritual, Gutierrez meditate before starting a piece, transferring the spiritual dream into her craft. Her artwork has been exhibited in galleries around the world displaying her celestial influence of the Latino Culture.


Norma Bessuet
Born in Buenos Aires Argentina in 1947, Norma Bessuet studied at the Slade school of fine arts in Britain. Her paintings consist of children and angels in a fantastical fairy tale-like setting, such images also seem mystical at times. Much of her work deals with the lone individual exposed in a natural and nurturing environment. Her work is displayed in many exhibitions around the world including the MOMA, Caracas, and Buenos Aires. She now lives and works in New York City.

Norah Borges (Leonor Fanny Borges Acevedo)
Born into and Argentine family of talented revolutionaries in 1901,Norah Borges was nothing short from great. Traveling the world at an early age, Borges was able to study different styles of art and participate in the Avant-Garde movement. Borges illustrated a number of magazine covers, books of poems for big publications, and painted portraits of authors, and poets including Juan Ramon Jimenez. With cubist influences, Borges’s work was seen in many Avant-Garde publications. After marrying and returning to Argentina, Borges supported anti-fascist feminist agendas during WWII. She later worked as a journalist, art critic and painter until her death in 1998.


Leonora Carrington
Born in Britain 1917, Leonora Carrington spent most of her life in Mexico known for her surrealist painting and writing abilities that originated from a life of emotional hardship. Starting her artistic career with no support from her family, she began showing her work in small galleries in Britain and New York that gathered a lot of hype. After a horrible romantic end with other surrealist, Max Ernst due to his arrest by the Gestapo, Carrington went into deep depression and was institutionalized. After an escape from the hospital, Carrington sought asylum at the Mexican Embassy and married Mexican Ambassador, Renato Leduc. Most of her work and writing was influenced by her times of depression, Mexican heritage and her childhood. She died May 2011 as one of the last surrealists painters of her era.

Filed Under: Girls, Her History for Girls, Leading Latinas for Girls Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Gymnast: Madison McGuire

January 31, 2013 By Leave a Comment

At only age 8, Madison McGuire already has big dreams and has her plans set on becoming an Olympian. Madison McGuire has been in gymnastics for four years now and has come a long way, but not without the help of her family. She has a twin, three brothers, a loving mother, father and stepmother to keep her motivated. She has turtles, a cat named Bella, and two dogs. When I met with her, she had just broken the growth plate in her big toe while running onto the vault and stumbling on her foot.

In the process of the bone breaking event, Madison was training for a National testing opportunity, just after being recruited from the Talent Opportunity Program (TOPS) in Huntsville, Texas. This program evaluates female gymnasts on their physical abilities. These programs are for the coach and the gymnasts, as they go through training methods on the national level. Madison’s mom, Amanda Amaya, said that they’re very eager to try again next year. The regional testing is in the summer and Madison should be recovered and ready to go when the time comes.

After participating in the TOPS program, Madison and her family’s goal is to become a level 10– she’s currently  at a level 7. The talent levels of gymnastics can be complicated at times, but Madison and her family are grateful to have done their research. Levels 1 through 6 require the girls to do the same routine, and are scored on their physical abilities and performance. Once they move up to levels 7 through 10, the girls are known as optional gymnasts and can exhibit their individual talents by creating their own routines and choosing their own music. Madison will compete in her first level 7 competition this February, held in San Antonio, TX.

Madison’s specialty is the bars, which pose as the hardest event in gymnastics, but she enjoys the challenge. When asked if she had any advice for girls in gymnastics, Madison states, “ You can do it. It’s very fun doing all the tricks, it was hard for me when I first started, but it got easier with practice. The medals make it all worth it.” Ms. Amaya, Madison’s mother, proudly claims that their goal is to keep Madison healthy and happy throughout her gymnastics career, but their dream is the Olympics. In life, Madison hopes to go to the Olympics, after that she hopes to pursue a career as a veterinarian, or a gymnastics coach. And just like any other little girl her age, Madison likes reading the “American Girl Books”– her favorite character is Samantha. Latinitas is so excited to spotlight Madison and we wish her luck on her athletic journey, the Olympics would be a great feat!

Click here to watch a video of Madison on the bars!

Filed Under: Girls, Her History for Girls, Super Stars for Girls

Latina Trailblazers in Government

December 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Latinas have been prevalent in leadership positions the U.S. for many years now. Not only are Latinas make an impact in entertainment and in our hearts, but as strong, and striving women in government, law and politics.  These women are more than government officials, they’re workers for the people. They are the first of their ethnicity and gender to hold many titles, and they won’t be the last. Their success comes from experience and motivation from within to push the US into becoming  better justified, moral, definitive, and healthy. These Latinas have been making great strides during the past decades and they are still blazing to help others continue what they have started.

Sonia Sotomayor (born June 25, 1954) is an Associate Judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. Sotomayor has been serving this position since August 2009, when Barrack Obama nominated her. She is the third female Assistant Justice and the first Hispanic Assistant justice. Because of this great accomplishment, she is an important Latina. Sotomayor was born in New York City and is of Puerto Rican descent. At a young age, she became interested in law and went to Yale Law School. Sotomayor was Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit before becoming part of the Supreme Court.

 

Dolores Huerta (born April 10, 1930) is a civil rights activist and labor leader known for co-founding the National Farmworkers Association (now United Farm Workers) with Cèsar Chávez. Huerta’s mother was a very caring woman who always gave back to people and the community, which inspired her to think about civil rights. Along with civil rights, Huerta also fights for women’s rights, worker rights, and immigrant rights. In 2002, she started the Dolores Huerta Foundation, which aims at engaging and developing natural leaders. Because of her efforts to this day, Dolores is an important Latina.

 

Hilda Solis (born October 20, 1957) is the 25th United States Secretory of Labor under the Obama administration. She also served in the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2009 and the California State Senate in 1994. Her parents were from Nicaragua and Mexico, and she was the first in her family to go to college.  Solis was the first to do many things, including the first Hispanic woman to serve in the State Senate back in California, the first Hispanic woman to serve in the U.S. Cabinet, and the first female recipient of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in 2000.  Solis is an important Latina in history and is still paving the way for future generations.

 

Aída Álvarez (born 1950) is the first Hispanic woman and first Puerto Rican to hold a United States Cabinet level position. Aida was born in Puerto Rico and her family moved to New York years later. Her family always encouraged her to pursue her goals, and many other people provided support for her. She began her career as a journalist but became an investment banker later on. In 1997, Bill Clinton appointed her Admistrator of the Small Business Adminstration, making her the first Hispanic woman and the first Puerto Rican to be an executive officer in the U.S. Cabinet.  As of 2008, she is part of the board of directors for Wal-Mart. Like some of the other Latinas on this list, she is making history for her leadership roles.

 

Antonia Coello Novello (born August 23, 1944) is a Puerto Rican public health administrator and physician. Coello Novello was the first woman and first Hispanic to be the Surgeon General of the United States. She was the Surgeon General from 1990 to 1993. The Surgeon General is the leading spokesperson on matters of public health in the federal government. She was also the vice admiral in the Public Health Serviced Commissioned Corps. Because of these great responsibilities, Antonia is an important Latina.

 

Filed Under: Girls, Her History for Girls, Leading Latinas for Girls

Miriam Wnorowski, 20 Latinitas Under 20

November 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Name: Miriam Wnorowski

Age: 14

Heritage: Mexican-American

Hometown: Austin, Texas

Volunteer Experience:

Miriam has been involved with Girl Scouts since first grade. This year she completed her Silver Award as a Cadette Girl Scout. She wanted to make some upgrades to the Zilker Park Girl Scout cabin in Austin, TX. She spent over 50 hours sewing colorful banners to decorate the main room in the cabin. She then organized an unveiling for her and her fellow girl scouts to display the work they had completed to the community. Miriam is passionate about being a good role model. She is very aware of the choices she makes. She loves her friends and family and is proud of her large extended family. She loves large family gatherings and being able to attend school with her cousins. As many families drift apart she loves being able to see her extended family on a daily basis. She is motivated by sports. She has always been physically active and wants to pursue a career in Physical Education.

What makes her a leader?:

Deciding to pursue her Silver Award was a leadership role she undertook this year. As a Junior Girl Scout her troop completed the Bronze Award together. She knew that a Silver Award requires that she complete a minimum of 50 hours of independent work. This required planning and self motivation. She had to contact businesses to seek their help with supplies and gathered information about how to complete her tasks. She knew that she was doing something that would inspire other girl scouts and girls from the community and she was very committed to making the cabin a place they would want to hang out. Miriam has a strong will to succeed and had to learn at an early age how to be strong and independent. Miriam is strong willed, courageous, and has a beaming personality. She sees her past as a stepping stone to greater things and never lets it bring her down.

What extra-curricular activities is she involved in?:

Miriam has played soccer since Kindergarten. She has always been one of the smallest players on her team, but she plays with such passion that she is a giant inspiration on the field. I have seen her outrun girls who are much taller than her and steal soccer balls from players who don’t see her coming. She never gives up, even on those grueling hot days. She will be hunched over trying to catch her breath, but when the ball comes her way she will spring into action and make her play.

How is she a good example and positive role model to other girls?:

Miriam is a beautiful example of a Latina young woman striving to do her best in school, help her community, and making strong moral choices in life. She is pround of her Mexican-American heritage. She embraces the culture, food, and music of her heritage. She attends a school with a small Latina population and carries herself proudly and sees her cultural heritage as an asset.

Filed Under: 20 Latina Girls Under 20, Girls, Her History for Girls

First Woman President in Brasil

November 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

In 2011, my country honored Dilma Rousseff as the first woman President. As a former activist and community leader, Dilma is making history and changing the odds for Latinas. Her history of being a “rebel”, as some would say, is a reminder that we all must take baby steps towards making a huge impact on others.

Brasil’s first female president, Dilma Rouseff was born in a lower-middle income family. Her father was a Bulgarian immigrant and her mother was a school teacher. By the age of 16, Dilma first started getting involved in political issues such as helping the working class. By 1970, she was arrested and faced extreme torture during her 3 year inprisionment. After being released, she acquired a degree in economics and entered politics were she developed a reptutation around her focus for public good. As she prepared to become the first female president, Dilma also overcame lymphoma, a type of cancer.

What does Dilma Rousseff represent? Imagine being a female activist in the 60s, where men and women were not entirely considered equal. Then picture yourself spending three years in prison where you were brutally tortured – mentally and physically. Now imagine going forward with your life and using your experiences, pain, struggles, and story to make an impact on others. Dilma has set an example for women all over the world. Life can present you with some obstacles that seem so overwhelming, but there is always a new path you can choose.

Because ourPresident is a woman, the country will also have new views and realistic opinions on gender relations. For our entire lives, decisions made by men have impacted the lives of women. Our voices have never been as accurately represented as they will be now. As our previous president’s handpicked successor, Dilma Rousseff puts Brazilians on an optimistic path towards positivity.

Aside from the economic impact she will make, Dilma has a new, much more meaningful purpose to our youth. As a woman who endured struggle, she went on to become the first female president. This very woman questioned authority, suffered alongside other citizens, and dealt with life-threatening health issues that make her easier to relate. It’s hard to imagine your destiny being determined by someone who has led a priviledged and perfect life. But Dilma has felt it all.  Alongside these struggles, Dilma Rousseff is a divorced mother. The simple idea that a divorced mother is leading this country makes me smile.

During a recent visit to Harvard University, Dilma was asked what advice she would give to girls around the world, who look to her as a role model. Happily, President Rousseff smiled and responded:

“Be certain that you CAN. During my electoral campaign, a woman and her child approached me at the airport. She was a young mom and the child was a girl. She recognized me from television, so the girl came up to me and asked. ‘Can girls?’

I responded, ‘Can girls what?’
‘Be president?’
‘They can! They can!’

When I was little, girls didn’t dream of becoming a president. I dreamed of being one of two things: a ballerina or a firefighter. Yes, I wanted to put out fires. Today, I know girls in Brasil have a third option, they can dream of becoming the President of Brasil. They can also dream of being the president of Harvard.”
Filed Under: Girls, Her History for Girls, Leading Latinas for Girls Tagged With: , ,

College Leader: Jackie Sifuentes

October 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment

If you had asked a six-year-old Jackie Sifuentes what she wanted to be when she grew up, she would have been quick to tell you she wanted to be a doctor. Fifteen years later, the dream is still going strong as she nears the end of her undergraduate career at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. As an uprising senior, Sifuentes performs an impressive balancing act through her participation in her university’s band, the Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Inc., the SMU Chemistry Society, the Connect Mentor Program, and the College Hispanic American Students (CHAS) organization. As a full-time, pre-medical student working towards a Biochemistry degree, Sifuentes has a lot on her plate, but she continues to find the inspiration she needs to move forward and achieve her goals.

As almost every college student can attest, the workload and attention to detail needed is much greater at the university level than it is in high school. Additionally, the courses that are needed to fulfill pre-med requirements are more intensive than most science and math courses. The demanding classes are part of the reason many students who enter college give up their medical ambitions as undergraduates. According to Sifuentes, the key to succeeding as a pre-med student in college is focus and mental preparation. “ It takes a lot of disciplined studying to stay on top of all these courses, and as you get further along in these courses you realize that it’s not going to get any easier. The material will only get more dense, so you have to prepare accordingly.”

Aside from adopting a good study ethic, Sifuentes leans heavily on her loved ones to help weather the stressful torrents of college life. Taking the time to reach out and stay connected to family is of the utmost importance to Sifuentes, as it helps keep her grounded. “My grandmother has been an especially strong motivator during my hard times away from home at college. When I’m stressed out and need inspiration, I can always count on her wisdom to keep me positive.”  Family is a large part of the reason Sifuentes was motivated to become a doctor in the first place, having lost several family members to cancer.

She is interested in doing medical research in the field of oncology (the study and treatment of tumors) as well as treating patients one-on-one. Whatever path she chooses to take, Sifuentes anxiously awaits the day when she can officially add the”M.D” to the end of her name. More importantly, she looks forward to sense of fulfillment that comes from being able to help those in need. Until then, Sifuentes continues her educational journey, or her “pilgrimage”, as she calls it, by keeping up with her studies and keeping sight of her goals. Even though her days as a pre-med student have been, and will continue to be, demanding— and let’s face it, pricey, Sifuentes still appreciates the value of higher education and offers a sound piece of advice: “Education is the one thing you work for yourself that no one can ever take from you. Money can be an issue, but don’t let it be an excuse to limit yourself.”

Filed Under: Bis Sis for Girls, Girls, Her History for Girls

Dolores Huerta

September 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Mexican-American presence and activism in the United States is one that is full of strong and independent leaders that have fought for what they believed in. Dolores Huerta, a Latina from New Mexico, was born April 30, 1920. She is historically one of the most important female role models for Latinas in the United States. She is a woman that understands the power of education and is passionate about helping people like her. She has dedicated her entire life to the service of others who are less fortunate and is one of the leading civil rights activists of her time.

Dolores, at a very young age, was active in the community and was part of the Girl Scouts. Understanding the importance of education, Dolores attended the University of Pacific’s Stockton College and then transferred to San Joaquin’s Delta Community College. After a few short years, she received her degree and became a grammar teacher to young children. She soon realized that the children that she was teaching needed much more help than she could give inside of the classroom. She saw Mexican-American families who struggled with their jobs as they were paid unfairly. She saw children going home to families that could barely feed their children. She saw that there was a need for someone to represent the needs of Hispanic families and children living in the United States during that time.  She realized that she needed to help in a much bigger way.

Dolores Huerta quit her job as a teacher and soon became a key figure in the civil rights movement working for farm worker rights by helping create the United Farm Workers of America. This organization, that still exists today, serves as way for workers to come together to be able to discuss issues and problems that they face on a daily basis. Together with her co-founder, César Chávez, she fought for the rights of farm workers and made sure that they were paid fairly, had better working conditions and were treated equally. She organized non-violent rallies and protests to try and get her voice heard about the issues facing farmworkers and was successful in helping pass many laws that would help farmworkers in the United States.

Dolores Huerta has become one of the leading voices to fight for the rights of Mexican immigrants and the equal rights for women. She is now a very strong supporter of immigration reform and works very hard to encourage women to take stronger roles of leadership and activism within their communities. She constantly encourages the Latino population in the United States to vote and firmly believes in change. She is a great example of a strong Latina who realized her dreams of making positive change in her community through hard work, dedication and determination.

Filed Under: Girls, Her History for Girls, Leading Latinas for Girls
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