Since joining, I have been fortunate enough to meet many eager and hardworking students and faculty who have supported my academic goals…
Growing up in a predominantly Mexican-American community, it was infrequent to see those I looked up to pursue such a degree as applied mathematics and even more so at the graduate level. As such, many STEM-related jobs were simply works of fiction, and it wasn’t until later in my academic career at Hartnell College, and later UCSC, that I began to explore the world of SciCAM. As a result, I applied to the Next GEN SAM program not only because I aspire to become a data scientist but also to serve as a motivator and positive example for future first-generation Mexican-American mathematicians, like myself, in the coming years. Since joining, I have been fortunate enough to meet many eager and hardworking students and faculty who have supported my academic goals; for which I am forever grateful.