Every once in a while, a story inspires generations.
Gabriela and Cecilia Perez are first-generation Mexican American students at The University of California, Irvine (UCI). Born and raised in Oxnard, California, their parents immigrated from Mexico and dedicated their lives to providing their children with as many opportunities as possible. Gabriela credits her parents as the first to teach her that hard work, compassion and dedication are all needed to pursue the American dream.
In 2019, Gabriela received her Bachelor of Science in chemistry from UCI and is now pursuing her Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree at the UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences. From an early age, Gabriela was a translator for her parents in many settings, including at school, the grocery store and physicians’ offices. She immediately grasped the importance of good communication with healthcare professionals to ensure information did not get lost in translation, as it frequently may for people who are not native English speakers.
As a teenager, Gabriela would often translate medications on behalf of her grandmother. Then one day, it clicked; she realized her mission was to help others with their health and improve their access to care.
“I remember how overwhelming it was explaining health issues and medications to my grandmother,” recounts Gabriela “I knew my grandmother had me to help her, but often wondered, ‘what about all the other patients, especially elders, who don’t speak English? How do they even begin to figure out their health on their own?’ That’s when my career path became crystal clear: to be of service to others.”
Cecilia, Gabriela’s younger sister, had a similar calling but through nursing. Through her work at the Perez Family Child Care, her mother’s daycare facility in Oxnard, Cecilia developed a passion for caring for children. A nursing student at the UCI Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, Cecilia aspires to be a pediatric nurse. She also wishes to improve communication with families and physicians to ensure information is relayed accurately and appropriately.
Gabriela and Cecilia both attribute their academic and career pursuits to their parents. Ironically, neither Gabriela nor Cecilia saw themselves attending the same school; however, UCI offered the opportunity for these sisters to nurture their unique strengths in their respective fields.
“Having grown up in a working-class community in Oxnard, we witnessed first-hand the flaws of our healthcare system,” observed Cecilia. “My sister and I knew there needed to change. Coming from a very empathetic family, we both decided to be that change. It’s such a dream to share this experience at UCI together.”
UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
The mission of the UCI School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences is to be a driving force for the advancement of health and wellness of individuals and society. Our programs span a continuum from discovery, development, and delivery of new drugs, devices, and diagnostics all the way to optimizing medication therapy in patients and patient populations.
UCI Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing
At the UCI Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, we dedicate ourselves to the education of nursing professionals who will improve patient care and promote population health, locally and globally. We strive to produce leaders in research, education, and clinical practice who will champion collaborative, compassionate, and interdisciplinary evidence-based practice.