A class on the social determinants of health, combined with a work-study job for the preschool program JumpStart, inspired public health major Valeria Saldana to work in health care for children.
鈥淎t first, I wanted to be a doctor,鈥� says Saldana, who joined a living-learning community for pre-med students during her first year at 51视频. 鈥淣ow, I want to be a speech therapist or a physician assistant with a focus on pediatrics. There are so many jobs, so many things I could do with my public health degree, so I鈥檓 trying to dip in my feet and see where I can go.鈥�
That class on the social determinants of health, taught by Public Health Asst. Prof. Angela Wangari Walter, helped Saldana to see the effects of early childhood education and health care on adult health and success, she says.
鈥淪he is passionate about what she teaches and she cares about her students doing well. She uses images, examples and facts that I鈥檝e never forgotten 鈥� like that children鈥檚 reading levels in third grade are directly connected to high school graduation rates,鈥� Saldana says.聽
Saldana, a first-generation college student from Revere, Massachusetts, has worked for JumpStart, a literacy program for preschool children from low-income families, since the beginning of her first year at UML. 鈥淚 adore children,鈥� she says.
The pre-med living-learning community, the public health program and JumpStart all helped Saldana, who describes herself as 鈥渧ery social,鈥� make friends and find communities that gave her a sense of belonging during her first year of college. That was especially important to her as a first-generation college student.
Then, Saldana found yet another community when she responded to an email inviting students to join the Student Government Association (SGA) 鈥� a community where she could meet and advocate for students from across the campus.
鈥淚 feel like college can be a little nerve-wracking 鈥� your parents drop you off, you don鈥檛 know anyone. It might not be as easy for some people to make friends and feel like this is your new home,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 so much we can do to help students to make sure everything鈥檚 flowing well. So I thought, let me go check this out.鈥�
She signed on as a senator representing the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences, and in the spring of her sophomore year, she was elected chair of the SGA鈥檚 Campus Life and Environment Committee.聽
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, her committee focused on gauging how students were doing with remote learning, isolated from friends and sometimes family. Then, she helped advocate for professors to offer more live discussion during class times, for students to keep their cameras on 鈥� and for the university to increase its mental health resources and outreach.
As a senior, Saldana plans to spend a semester studying abroad in Spain while deciding on next steps. In the meantime, she has gotten certified as a phlebotomist so she can get a job drawing blood.
Saldana, who was in the first cohort of students to be inducted into Tri-Alpha, an honor society for first-generation college students, says 51视频 continues to provide opportunities to expand her circles of friends. She says that she knew from her first visit to campus that she had found a welcoming community.
鈥淚 felt instantly like it was where I belonged,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 love it. I have found one of my best friends here. I truly have felt like this was my second home, and my first home when I鈥檓 on campus.鈥�