In Their Words: Rosemary Garcia

Name: Rosemary Garcia

Department: Social Sciences/ Latin American & Latino Studies

What Award/ Scholarship did you receive? 2017-2018 Deans’ Undergraduate Award

What year do you expect to graduate? 2018

College: Oakes

Where do you call home? Modesto, California and Tamazulita, Jalisco, Mexico

With all of the choices for college, what made UC Santa Cruz stand out?
UC Santa Cruz stood out for me because of the two majors that appealed to me, Human Biology and Latin American & Latino Studies. The Human Biology track seemed to stand out from other UC’s because of the Medical Spanish component, as I am interested in these two topics. Further, LALS appealed to me because there was not any other major just like this one at another UC, where mostly it was Chicano studies.

What is your field of focus? Health and Migration. I am double majoring in Human Biology and Latin American & Latino Studies.

What do you hope to do once you graduate from UC Santa Cruz? Attend medical school/ graduate school to work in primary care and public health where I can use my native Spanish fluency and more to help communities understand the complex health care system.

What is one memorable moment that stands out for you as a student here? Being a part of Residential Life Staff at Oakes College for three years.

What is your one piece of advice for incoming students about life at UC Santa
Cruz? There is a lot you can make out of what we have here, or even create more regardless of how so many see UCSC as lacking opportunity compared to other UC’s. I would say take advantage of the beautiful coast we are around, visit it, and use it and the campus to your academic, social, and mental advantage.

How will this scholarship impact your academic life /research? I will be able to possibly continue this research now that I believe in myself, and both believe and physically show that I have important perspectives to offer medicine and health care in the future.